Super Size Me (2004)

Super Size Me: Directed by Morgan Spurlock. With Chemeeka Walker, Dania Abu-Rmaileh, Amanda Kearsan, Christian Baucher. While examining the influence of the fast food industry, Morgan Spurlock personally explores the consequences on his health of a diet of solely McDonald’s food for one month.

“u0026quot;Supersize Meu0026quot; is an original, humorous, disgusting, shocking, and — overall — scary film. Spurlock takes us on a whirlwind tour of the downfall of American health through poor nutrition, padding a lot of information with anecdotal footage of his own foray into a McDonaldu0026#39;s-only diet.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhat amuses me about the negative u0026quot;reviewsu0026quot; for this film at IMDb is how the majority of the naysayers focus on exactly one thing: Spurlocku0026#39;s 30-day McDonalds binge. Heck, you could pick that much out of the trailer, and write a slanted review based solely on the imperfections of that particular plot device as an overall impact study and call it a day. I wouldnu0026#39;t be a bit surprised to find out thatu0026#39;s whatu0026#39;s happening, either. Certainly, anyone whou0026#39;s watched the political BS pour in to commentary for Michael Mooreu0026#39;s documentaries knows how itu0026#39;s done. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHowever, if you actually take the time to watch the film, youu0026#39;ll see something quite different emerge: a pattern of childhood indoctrination, poor nutrition, inadequate exercise, and skyrocketing obesity rates, thatu0026#39;s sweeping this nation like a plague. Spurlocku0026#39;s self-afflicted experiment is, as Iu0026#39;ve mentioned, a continuity device that unifies the broad range of the film within a single case study. In the total scope of whatu0026#39;s addressed in this film, itu0026#39;s a relatively small part, and many decry it as unrealistic. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBut Spurlock never claimed it was entirely realistic! He says as much in the film: he ate as much McDonalds in a month as *nutritionists* recommend one eat in 8 years or more. However, the problem is, a lot of Americans are eating as much fast food in a year as he ate in a month. What is the net effect going to be after five years? After 10? Spurlock further restricts himself to an AVERAGE amount of walking exercise, typical for our national population. The problems he exhibits after 3 weeks on this diet are NOT unique, they are the ones that people around the country are exhibiting in spades: weight gain, fatty liver, depression, inactivity. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIt cannot be overemphasized that this condition is widespread. Those arguing u0026quot;personal responsibilityu0026quot; have to answer the question of how it is that suddenly, over the last 30 years, so many people have u0026quot;chosenu0026quot; a life of sickness and self-destructive addiction over one of health and common sense. The effect of mass-media indoctrination is an obvious factor, and the film addresses it well. Spurlock also takes us behind the scenes at school lunchrooms and gymnasiums around the country, where we find out a little bit of whatu0026#39;s been happening to the kids of America. Is the u0026quot;french fryu0026quot; truly the only vegetable we can afford to serve to school kids, aside from the dubious catsup? How children could be expected to show u0026quot;personal responsibilityu0026quot; above and beyond that exhibited by their likely-obese parents in such an environment of brand franchising, 2nd-rate meal u0026quot;programsu0026quot;, and cutbacks in PE/recess time is a matter that I invite all fast-food apologists at IMDb to explore.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFor pure entertainment value, I have to deduct points for an uneven pace (especially near the end) and insufficient exposition from some of the people in the film. Still, u0026quot;Supersize Meu0026quot; stands as an indictment of the prepackaged food industry, its marketing hype, and its congressional lobbyists. It also serves as a warning to Americans trapped in demanding low-activity jobs which leave little time for lunch or exercise: donu0026#39;t eat the fries!u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003e8/10”