To me, a young fellow who looks “well fed” radiates…it’s hard to put into words but for me it’s a vaguely uncomfortable vibe. A feeling of teetering on the edge. The definition of well-fed is hard to pin down, and I don’t want to sound dismissive. It refers to the physical look of someone who’s not fat or plump or chubby, but who seems to enjoy eating. Someone who’s just a tiny bit heavier than he/she ought to be.
My silent reaction when I see a well-fed 20something is that they’re…I don’t know exactly. A tad indecisive? Not louche or indulgent enough to be fat, but lacking the discipline to be seriously lean and taut. There’s nothing “wrong” with looking well-fed, but at the same time there’s something not quite right about it. Well-fed means a bit stocky but a few bowls of ice cream short of being bulky.
These thoughts were going through my head as I watched Truman Hanks in A Man Called Otto. Truman is Tom Hanks‘ youngest son and is playing a much younger version of Hanks’ curmudgeonly Otto in flashback. The problem is that Mr. Hanks is super-slim these days and a 20something son is supposed to be slightly slimmer than his 60ish dad so something feels off.
It also doesn’t quite work when the hefty son is taller than his father. Plus Truman seems a little too nice. If you have a cranky attitude when you’re older, you’re going to have a few shards of that attitude when you’re younger as well. I didn’t buy it.
I’m not trying to be brusque or unkind — just candid. I honestly don’t care for the appearance of well-fed types. I remember looking in the mirror when I was 28 and going into shock when I realized that I had “the look.” It freaked me out. I changed my diet and drinking habits right away.
