Great Film: Super Size Me
Not a GREAT movie, but definitely a good and important one. (***)
Fast food is good. I freely admit to running through fast food
drive-thrus (Wendy's, Taco Bell and McDonald's being my top 3) often,
sometimes several times a week. And I'm not the only one. I'm also one
of the many millions of people in the country who are, uh...not thin.
Think there's a connection?
In "Super Size Me", a documentary from talented debut filmmaker Morgan
Spurlock that manages to be both entertaining and horrifying, he
attempts to draw a parallel between the fast food culture we live in
and the rampant (and ever-increasing) rate of obesity in America.
To do this, he launched into a little science experiment. A 33 year-old
New Yorker in excellent health, he would eat nothing but McDonald's for
an entire month, to gauge the effects on his body. Breakfast, lunch,
and dinner at McDonald's and whenever they asked him to supersize, he
would have to accept.
Before starting, he consulted three doctors, a cardiologist, a
gastroenterologist, and a general practitioner, all of whom said this
experiment obviously wouldn't be GOOD for him, but that the damages
would be minimal.
Instead, the results were pretty shocking. Spurlock gained almost 30
pounds (over 10 in the first week), saw his cholesterol skyrocket, and
experienced frequent nausea, chest pains, mood swings and loss of sex
drive.
During this month he also drove around the country, interviewing
several different people on the topic (including a "Big Mac enthusiast"
who has eaten over 19,000 Big Macs). His research on our fast food
culture definitely yields some interesting information, especially when
he interviews a group of 1st-graders, and more of them can identify
Ronald McDonald than Jesus or George Washington.
"Super Size Me" isn't perfect. It's a little repetitive and has a
certain thinness to it (no pun intended!) that prevents it from being
one of the truly great comedic documentaries of recent years like
"American Movie" or "Bowling For Columbine".
But even if it falls short of greatness, it's an entertaining and
thought-provoking film (especially if you're, uh...not thin).
Spurlock is a witty and engaging host (sort of like Michael Moore but
not as much of a windbag), and I also liked his girlfriend (a vegan
chef!) who looks on his experiment with a mixture of amusement, horror,
and dismay. Just like we do.
Cast
- Himself played by Kelly Brownell
- Himself (as Daryl M. Isaacs MD Internal Medicine) played by Daryl Isaacs
- Herself (as Lisa Ganjhu D.O. Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist) played by Lisa Ganjhu
- Himself (as Steven Siegel MD FACC Cardiologist) played by Stephen Siegel
- Herself (as Bridget Bennett R.D.) played by Bridget Bennett
- Himself, Exercise Physiologist played by Eric Rowley
- Himself, Former Editor, Walking played by Mark Fenton
