Film Review: Super Size Me

Wed Jan 21, 3:37 AM ET

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By James Greenberg

PARK CITY (Hollywood Reporter) - Following in the footsteps of Michael Moore's work, "Super Size Me" is one of the new generation of documentaries in which the filmmaker becomes the subject.

In this case, director Morgan Spurlock had the bright idea that he would eat three meals a day for 30 days at McDonald's and see what happens. The outcome is not a pretty picture, but thanks to Spurlock's oversized and buoyant personality and some pretty nifty filmmaking, the results are as entertaining as they are sobering.

Spurlock got started on his journey, which took him to 20 cities, after seeing a news story in which two teenage girls were suing McDonald's, blaming fast food for their obesity. The question of personal responsibility vs. corporate responsibility is a central issue in the film, with corporate deceit taking more of beating. If the documentary has a shortcoming, it is its failure to acknowledge that all obesity is not the result of eating junk food.

But a lot of it is in this country, which Spurlock notes is the fattest nation in the world with 100 million overweight people, 60% of whom get no exercise. Spurlock manages to cram in lots of alarming facts and stats with the smart and amusing use of animation and music. For instance, a colorful map of Manhattan sprouts flags indicating each of the 83 McDonald's locations on the 14-mile island. Later, over a split screen of smiley Ronald McDonald commercials, Curtis Mayfield sings the classic "Pusher Man."

Spurlock starts out the picture of health, a strapping 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds. Three doctors and a nutritionist, who reappear throughout, examine him and attest to his well-being. But within a few days, he's vomiting out of the window of his car. And it's downhill from there. Spurlock's body goes through a general deterioration that surprises even his doctors in its rapidity. (His girlfriend, a vegan chef, is beside herself.) Gaining weight is just the outward sign; his liver becomes toxic, his cholesterol skyrockets, his libido sags, he gets headaches, and he becomes depressed.

In between the daily journal of his gorging, often with supersize portions of Big Macs, fries and soda, Spurlock interviews people on the street, the U.S. surgeon general and a lobbyist for the fast-food industry. Not surprisingly, reps from McDonald's do not return dozens of calls requesting an interview. One of the most distressing stops along the way is at a school in Illinois where kids are fed pizza, soda and sweets to their hearts content.

The real value of "Super Size Me" may be as a cautionary tale for kids. It's lively and funny enough to hold their attention while delivering an important message.

Director-producer: Morgan Spurlock; Executive producers: J.R. Morley, Heather Winters; Director of photography: Scott Ambrozy; Music: Steve Horowitz, Michael Parrish; Editor: Stela Gueorguieva, Julie Lombardi.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter