Super Size Me
Independent filmmaker Morgan Spurlock takes a look at the state of diet and nutrition and its related health effects on modern American society. Using a “30-day McDonalds-only binge diet and no exercise” as the plot device to move the film along, he looks at the health effects and societal costs of fast food and its supporting industry.
The film works on many levels. It’s humorously presented, but there are a few spots where it gets notably serious, partcularly about 3 weeks into the month when the project’s three consulting doctors grow so concerned at the quick degeneration of his condition that they recommend he abandon the experiment.
Part of the film has a sort of Michael Moore quality where you can’t really tell how straight the information really is, but on the whole it’s a believeable and startling investigation, particularly with respect to the involvement of fast food in the school system. For whatever else you might think about fast food and “personal responsibility”, schools present the industry with a captive audience. I recently did some volunteer work for Boston schools and I have to say I was shocked at the amount and type of blatent advertising in the hallways and cafeteria. No parent can compete with that and that completely nullifies any argument about “personal responsbility”. There was nothing like that when I was in school (granted that was “quite some time” ago). Still, enormous advertisements for local television stations, Coca-cola (disguised as Minutemaid), and others was eye opening. But then, back when I was in school, the government still placed at least some value on education.
This is definitely a film worth watching.
; would watch again.
July 5th, 2006 at 11:17 am
One of my favorite docs ever. I’ve seen it at least half a dozen times. I’m curious to see the “Educationally Enhanced Edition” meant for classrooms.
Morgan’s TV show is coming back later this month. He’s going to be doing 30 Days in jail, as well as sending a border-patrolling Minuteman to live with an undocumented Mexican family for a month. Can’t wait.
July 5th, 2006 at 11:38 am
Ooh, I’d like to see the “educationally enhanced” version as well. It probably has more biology (what is cholesterol, what is the circulatory system) and nutritional information (what is agribusiness, who do we process food) and maybe even politics (what are subsidies, why is good food expensive and crap food cheap).
Never heard of the TV show. Hmmm… Yep. Queued.
He needs to ditch that mustache, though. Then again, maybe not. If he did, he’d look just like Max Headroom.
July 5th, 2006 at 12:17 pm
What? Morgan without the Fu Manchu is like Abe Lincoln without the stovepipe hat.