Netflix's 'Dumplin' Is Sure To Bring Our Your Inner Southern Belle Beauty Queen!

Thanks to Dolly Parton and this trailer, I can’t stop thinking in a Southern accent. So if y’all don't mind, please read all of these words with a Southern drawl, if you’d be so kind. Now I’m fixin' to tell y’all about this adorable movie trailer I just set my eyes upon -- it’s called Dumplin and it stars none other than Miss Jennifer Aniston, bless her big beautiful heart. After I did some researchin’, I found that this here movie is based on a young adult novel of the same name. When I tell you I cannot wait for this movie, child, you better believe I’ll be the first one in line when this comes out in limited theaters on December 7. It’s also gonna be released on Netflix—can I get a hallelujah?!

Now, there is a lot to talk about in this trailer so let’s take it step-by-step. Willowdean (nicknamed Will by everyone but her mama, who calls her Dumplin’) is the daughter of Rosie Dickson, a former beauty pageant winner who has become a minor celebrity in the town of Blue Bonnet. Willowdean is not into the beauty pageant world—she is confident in herself and doesn't need to win a pageant to prove it. By the way, Will is played Danielle Macdonald, who was just lovely in Patti Cake$. Make a note to breeze on down to wherever you get your movies and check that out if you haven’t. Anyway, Willowdean decides to prove to her mom and to the town just how messed up the pageant system is by entering the Miss Teen Blue Bonnet Pageant to make a point about its exclusive tendencies. Other plus-sized girls follow in her footsteps, and soon the Miss Teen Blue Bonnet pageant is forced to make room for everybody -- and every body. What’s got li'l ole me especially excited is the “closest thing to Dolly Parton around here,” AKA the drag queens who inspire Will and give her plenty of useful advice. It gets better, folks. Miss Dolly herself has written original songs for this movie! So not only are we blessed with classics in the trailer like “9 to 5", but we get snippets of what’s to come: original Dolly Parton material! I cain’t hardly wait.

I hope you’ll agree that Dumplin’ looks fresh and funny and relatable to everyone who’s ever been told they weren't good enough for something. Dumplin’ is here to remind us that we all have talents to share, and we’re all worth more than we give ourselves credit for. If you’re thinking that the trailer gave a lot away, don't you worry. This trailer looks designed for people who’ve read the books. As someone who hasn’t, I’m missing the hints and nods in the trailer that I’m sure loyal readers will notice. Films that are based on books are usually very nuanced and crowd-pleasing—take To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before as a recent example. Don’t take this trailer at face value is all I’m saying; there’s surely lots of surprises yet to come. In any case, thank you kindly for reading my take on this new movie, and I hope you’re as excited as I am for December 7!      

- Meg Spaulding, YH Contributing Writer