The latest statistics say that two out of every three Americans are overweight, and about one out of every three of those persons overweight is obese. Morgan Spurlock, an MTV alumnus, decides to eat three meals a day at McDonald's for thirty days to see how it will affect him. He must eat every item on the menu at least once during the thirty days, and he must super size anything he orders when suggested to by employees. A lot of people are criticizing Spurlock for setting up a situation where the predetermined outcome is maximized by his decidedly biased decisions. He doesn't exercise, and he limits his incidental walking to a mile per day. This may be partially true, but Spurlock wisely chooses a humorous approach to his topic; because, the reality is few people really want to discuss or listen to how overweight they are and why.
Taking a more serious, preachy tone would wear down audience interest quickly. Besides, the film isn't just about what happens to Spurlock after eating at McDonald's for thirty days, the results of which far exceed his three medical consultants' worst expectations. The film also attacks corporate America in general in the way it tailors its advertising to influence the most vulnerable Americans: children. From kids that know Ronald McDonald better than Jesus and George Washington to school lunch programs that mercilessly serve junk food to the nation's children, Spurlock illustrates how we are our own worst enemies.
As in any good documentary type film, there are always incidental moments that reveal more truth about its subjects than the filmmaker could script. One such moment is a conversation with an obese fourteen year old girl and the Subway advertisement guy. In between each humorous episode or interview, Spurlock serves us some facts and statistics about our love affair with and ignorance about fast food in small portions, along with a side order of humor. He doesn't let us off the hook, as he repeatedly demonstrates that personal responsibility must play a role in our lives when it comes to nutrition, just like it does in anything else we do. Spurlock stops short of a Michael Moore, "in your face" approach, and is successful on his own terms in persuading the audience to take heed about fast food without being heavy-handed. McDonald's scaled back its super size menu shortly after the film's release, although corporate bigwigs claimed it had nothing to do with this film. *** of 4 stars.
Taking a more serious, preachy tone would wear down audience interest quickly. Besides, the film isn't just about what happens to Spurlock after eating at McDonald's for thirty days, the results of which far exceed his three medical consultants' worst expectations. The film also attacks corporate America in general in the way it tailors its advertising to influence the most vulnerable Americans: children. From kids that know Ronald McDonald better than Jesus and George Washington to school lunch programs that mercilessly serve junk food to the nation's children, Spurlock illustrates how we are our own worst enemies.
As in any good documentary type film, there are always incidental moments that reveal more truth about its subjects than the filmmaker could script. One such moment is a conversation with an obese fourteen year old girl and the Subway advertisement guy. In between each humorous episode or interview, Spurlock serves us some facts and statistics about our love affair with and ignorance about fast food in small portions, along with a side order of humor. He doesn't let us off the hook, as he repeatedly demonstrates that personal responsibility must play a role in our lives when it comes to nutrition, just like it does in anything else we do. Spurlock stops short of a Michael Moore, "in your face" approach, and is successful on his own terms in persuading the audience to take heed about fast food without being heavy-handed. McDonald's scaled back its super size menu shortly after the film's release, although corporate bigwigs claimed it had nothing to do with this film. *** of 4 stars.