Todd and the Book of Pure Evil: a short review

 Time to put on my rantypants.

Hannah, Todd, Atticus, Jenny, and Curtis

When I watched the first episode of the campy Todd and the Book of Pure Evil I was really amused. It's a comedy/horror mashup of Evil Dead style effects and Clerks stoner humor. Even Jason Mewes has a recurring character as the All Knowing Janitor.

IMDB describes the premise thusly,

A stoner metalhead named Todd Smith, his crush Jenny, his best friend Curtis, and the geeky Hannah, search their high school for a mayhem-causing Satanic spell book, while being opposed by Atticus, the evil guidance counselor.

  It is revealed that the Book presents itself to students who are underdogs, marginalized, depressed, etc., we are told a high school is the perfect place to find them. Each episode follows the same formula and basically ends with the "be careful what you wish for" trope.

 After failing with Todd, the Book preys on "the school slut", a smart girl (nerd), a gay student, and a student who is characterized as obese on the show. After watching these episodes I was done with the show. The creators and fans of the show seem to find the "political incorrectness" edgy and cute. There was definitely an opportunity to do something awesome with those characters. (Who doesn't love a triumphant underdog?) Instead, 

To be more specific, let's take episode 5 (according to fear.net this is the pilot. From the official TBPE website:

Get yourself ready for ‘Monster Fat’... See Todd, Jenny, Curtis and Hannah take on body image issues, deep fried foods and a monster. And we may even get to see the sexy evil that lurks inside the Crowley High girls’ shower room. Todd, who has an irrational fear of fat people, must fight an evil monster made from human fat when an obesity epidemic takes over the school

I'm not sure how the characters "take on body issues" when Big Bad in this episode literally demonizes fat. We are introduced to Emily as she is being humiliated in gym class because of her size. She hides out in the bathroom where she finds the Book, it promises her the possibility of slimness. All fat women just want to be thinner!
Cut to a shower scene where Emily's fat is washed away (just like that!) and becomes ...Monster Fat. The new Emily returns to the gym where she is immediately complimented on her instantaneous extreme weight loss. Glad to have your approval, folks!
Monster Fat works quickly to turn all the cheerleaders into "500 pounders." /Sidenote: The monster only tranforms women with its Evil Fat. No male characters are affected. /This is where the quirky low budget effects lose their charm. I'm guessing the unrealistic fat suits and ugly makeup were meant to be funny. As was the MuuMuu boutique that sets up shop in the hallways. Hilarious!
This Big Bad and obesity epidemic are particularly difficult for Todd because of his fatphobia. Even though his 'irrational fear' tends to manifest itself as disgust.  After his crush, Jenny, is attacked by Monster Fat Todd can barely look at her. There is a dream sequence that features Todd begging for help when the 'frighteningly large' Jenny accosts him for sexytimes.

Oh Noes! Jenny (now with cottage cheese neck?) and Todd

I think it's also important to note that throughout the series thus far Jenny has repeatedly rejected Todd's advances. Suddenly, after her size change, Jenny is hurt by Todd's lack of attraction to her. This reinforces the idea that fat women have low self-esteem and will settle for any loser who gives her attention.

Todd has his normal conversation with Jimmy the janitor. Jimmy is surprised that Todd isn't thrilled with the situation because when Jimmy "wants his piece greased" he goes "obese." Jimmy offers the sage advice that skinny women are "only into skinny women," but fat women are "all about you." This advice (something I've heard before) is offensive to all women. Skinny women are self absorbed and selfish? Fat women are desperate? Come on.

The final scene takes place in the cafeteria where fat girls wait eagerly in line for their basketful of fried foods. At this point in the show I am feeling extra stabbity. Jenny tells Emily she blames her and also calls her a "skinny bitch." Spoiler alert: Overcome by guilt Emily decides to save the day from the fat monster she spawned and sacrifices herself by diving into a giant fryer to destroy the monster. Even though her sacrifice was deadly she failed to destroy the monster. Luckily, our hero Todd (with aid from Hannah) is there to save the day and put everything back to normal.

Sigh.