The rom-com's dated formula and perplexing message aside, its leading lady proves that she is still a force to be reckoned with.

In the early 2000s, it seemed that Marshanda was on top of the world. Practically everything she touched turned to gold.

Her leading turns in that decade's quintessential soap operas—Bidadari (Angel), Kisah Kasih di Sekolah (The Love Story At School) and Kisah Sedih di Hari Minggu (The Sad Story of a Sunday)—made her one of the most bankable actresses of her generation. When she crossed over to the silver screen, her cinematic debut Petualangan 100 Jam(A 100-Hour Adventure), starring fellow child actor Joshua Suherman, hinted at bigger things to come.

But then, she grew up, and like an ill-fated Disney Channel breakout, the young Marshanda started to unravel—in her personal life and, eventually, in her career. Undoubtedly, the toxic, mostly online discourse that followed her life was unfair and inhumane. It would have been a challenge to survive the harsh spotlight for anyone, let alone a young star. Her last acting gig of the period, the 2018 horror flick The Secret: Suster Ngesot Urban Legend, at first felt like a step forward but was, to put it mildly, a move in the wrong direction. 

Four years have passed since then, and Marshanda has staged her comeback with Gendut Siapa Takut?! (Who's Afraid of Being Fat). The romantic comedy, directed by Pritagita Arianegara and written by Pritagita and Ilya Aktop, was adapted from a novel of the same name by Alnira. The film also starred Wafda Saifan Lubis (Kadet 1947), Marthino Lio (Sultan Agung: Tahta, Perjuangan, Cinta), Dea Panendra (Jakarta vs. Everybody), Cut Mini (Athirah) and Tora Sudiro (Banyu Biru). The film premiered in Indonesian theaters on Sept. 22.

Body of work

In Gendut Siapa Takut?!, Marshanda stars as Moza Aphrodite, a plus-size novelist staring down the barrel of 30 years old. Despite her poor romantic prospects and the concerns of her parents (played by Cut Mini and Tora), Moza is adamant about keeping the airs of self-confidence. 

However, she still secretly fantasizes about being a statuesque fairytale princess, longing for a Prince Charming to sweep her off her feet.

Her life immediately turns spicy when a film production company expresses its interest in adapting her novel. The project is to be directed by Dafian Jatmiko (played by Marthino), who also happens to be Moza's long-time crush. Out of the blue, her former childhood bully-slash-neighbor Nareswara Radeva (played by Wafda) returns to her life, offering another opportunity for a different romance.

Everything's coming up roses for Moza, but as she gets to know the two potential suitors, she starts wondering whether they can accept her for who she is, physique-wise. Her best friend, Elaneno (played by Dea), adds more complications to her already thorny dilemma.

The romantic comedy marks a fifth directorial feature for Pritagita Arianegara, who nabbed her first Citra Award nomination for best director for her 2016 road trip drama, Salawaku. 

Comedy vs. cartoon

In hindsight, a rom-com about a plus-size heroine looking for her Prince Charming is nothing new in the Indonesian film scene. The most recent example is Jessica Mila and Citra Award-winner Reza Rahadian-starred's 2019 rom-com feature Imperfect: Karier, Cinta & Timbangan. That said, Gendut Siapa Takut?! marks Pritagita Arianegara's first directorial foray into the rom-com territory, and the final product is not half bad.

Pritagita, with the help of her director of photography, Faozan Rizal, and her production designer, Vida Sylvia Pasaribu, seems to have understood that one of the most effective treatments of what is essentially a generic love story would be to work around with the color palate and visuals. Every frame pops with bright, loud colors, with cartoonish animation gracing the screen now and then, manifesting Moza's secret fantasies and thoughts.

The make-up and wardrobe department, led by Eba Sheba and Hagai Pakan, also received some kudos. Instead of dressing up Moza as an over-the-top trainwreck—just like how Jessica Mila was presented in the similarly plus-sized-themed film Imperfect—they deliberately present Moza as a fashionable twentysomething who is keen on being a proper, socially functioning human being.

Credit goes to the editors, as well, led by Andhy Pulung and Abi Widono, who are not hesitant to zoom in on Moza's profile, her thick cheeks notwithstanding.

Unfortunately, there seems to be a limit to how much Pritagita and the company can elevate Gendut Siapa Takut?! from the similar rom-com features that have preceded it. As if Pritagita were afraid of turning her fluffy romance into a sad affair akin to Salawaku, the dramatic scenes in Gendut Siapa Takut?! end up half-baked, to the point where it is questionable whether we should feel for the characters or laugh at them.

Moreover, it is as if Pritagita were concerned that Gendut Siapa Takut?! might turn out to be less of an intelligent, screwball comedy and more of a Space Jam-style live-action cartoon. As the film enters its second act, it starts tackling an abundance of social issues such as privacy, social media frenzies, infidelity, mental health and body shaming.

Gendut Siapa Takut?! is still a wholesome rom-com, after all. No wonder Pritagita hastily wraps those issues with a pretty, neat bow in the film's third act. Perhaps the lighthearted Gendut Siapa Takut?! was too much of a head-scratcher for a director who typically excels at working on a more nuanced project. 

The leading lady returns

Will Gendut Siapa Takut?! bring Marshanda to the podium of Citra Awards? She might have a pretty good shot if nothing goes wrong.

Safe to say, it requires a leading lady of crème-de-la-crème talent to transform the formulaic love story of Gendut Siapa Takut?! into something that both audiences and film critics can appreciate. Delightfully, Marshanda proves that she is the best woman for the job. She understands how to be naive without coming across as self-indulgent and how to be confident without coming across as delusional. Her lines are delivered convincingly and organically, no matter how cringe they might appear on the page.

Perhaps Marshanda's biggest challenge would be how to justify the message that is conveyed by Gendut Siapa Takut?! Despite her character's frequent grand-standing speeches about body positivity and the whole "what's-inside-is-the-most-important", Moza still considers her weight a flaw that can only be redeemed with the love of a clean-cut, real-life Prince Charming.

There is a significant difference between "living with" and "living in spite of" and Gendut Siapa Takut?! failed to tell them apart. Who's afraid of being fat? Ironically, it's Moza all along.

Another fly in the ointment is that Marshanda's charm is so bright the rest of the cast find themselves in her shadow. Unlike Imperfect, there is no definite leading man in Gendut Siapa Takut?! Wafda and Marthino give their all, but once they share a scene with their leading lady, their flirtation cannot hold a candle to Marshanda's charisma.

Wafda, in particular, often falls flat during the film's big moments, confirming that he is nowhere near the level of Reza Rahadian. The only actors who can stand toe-to-toe with Marshanda are Cut Mini and Tora Sudiro, who would have benefited from more screen time.

Marshanda has returned. Her talents remain intact, and she has taught her fellow actors how to lead a film. Now it is time for her to hunt for a more compelling script.

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