According to Wikipedia, Film criticism is "the analysis and evaluation of films, individually and collectively. In general, this can be divided into journalistic criticism that appears regularly in newspapers, and other popular, mass-media outlets and academic criticism by film scholars that is informed by film theory and published in journals."  But one critic seems to believe that includes attacking the film's lead actress about her weight.

Melissa McCarthy's latest film, "Identity Thief", is not starting off on the best foot.  Odds are it will be a financial success at the box office this weekend, but the critical reception has been far less than favorable, only having a rating of 26% on the website Rotten Tomatoes.  Some reviewers have even admitted to walking out of the theater after only an hour into the film.  However, New York Observer critic Rex Reed felt that attacking the film wasn't enough and made fun of Melissa McCarthy's weight.  As a matter of fact, he focused on her weight, making four comments within three paragraphs of his review, calling the Oscar Nominated actress "tractor-sized," a "screeching, humongous creep" and a "female hippo."

The backlash from Reed's comments were immediate, with commenters remarking that Reed wouldn't be making such remarks had McCarthy been a man, comparing her to actors such as John Goodman and Jonah Hill, while others attacked Reed's age and noted that he would be dead soon.  In response to Reed's review, "Bridesmaids" director Paul Feig tweeted,

'For his catty and school bully name-calling of the supremely talented Melissa McCarthy, I cordially invite Mr. Rex Reed to go f**k himself.'

This isn't the first time Rex Reed's comments have landed him in some sort of controversy.  In his review for "Sex In The City" he ridiculed Sarah Jessica Parker for the mole on her chin, he bashed the country of South Korea with racial remarks over the film "Old Boy", and he started the rumor that Marisa Tomei's Oscar win for "My Cousin Vinny" was due to Jack Palance reading the wrong name from the envelope and the Academy was just covering it up.  Reed has yet to publically comment on the resulting backlash from his comments.

 

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