Super Size Me (2004)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Morgan Spurlock

Writer:

Morgan Spurlock (written by)

Release Date:

21 May 2004 (Canada)

Genre:

Documentary | Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

A film of epic portions.

Plot:

An irreverent look at obesity in America and one of its sources - fast food corporations.

Plot Keywords:

Fast Food | Obesity | Meal | School | Food Industry

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Morgan Spurlock	...	Himself
Daryl Isaacs	...	Himself (as Daryl M. Isaacs MD Internal Medicine)
Lisa Ganjhu	...	Herself (as Lisa Ganjhu D.O. Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist)
Stephen Siegel	...	Himself (as Steven Siegel MD FACC Cardiologist)
Bridget Bennett	...	Herself (as Bridget Bennett R.D.)
Eric Rowley	...	Himself, exercise physiologist
Mark Fenton	...	Himself, former editor, Walking
Alexandra Jamieson	...	Herself - Morgan's Girlfriend (as Healthy Chef Alex)
John Banzhaf	...	Himself - lawyer (as John F. Banzhaf III)
David Satcher	...	Himself - former Health Minister (as Dr. David Satcher)
Lisa Young	...	Herself - nutrition professor (as Dr. Lisa Young)
Kelly Brownell	...	Himself
Jacob Sullum	...	Himself - journalist
Tommy Thompson	...	Himself - US Secretary of Health
William J. Klish	...	Himself - medicine doctor (as William Klish)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language, sex and drug references, and a graphic medical procedure. (original version); Rated PG for thematic elements, a disturbing medical procedure, and some language. (educationally enhanced version)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Taiwan:PG-12 | Czech Republic:15 | Sweden:7 | Portugal:M/6 | Chile:14 | Iceland:L | Finland:K-3 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Brazil:Livre | Canada:G (Québec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Hong Kong:I | Ireland:PG | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | Norway:A | Philippines:G | Singapore:PG (cut) | South Korea:12 | Spain:T | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12A (original rating) | UK:12 (video rating) (2005) | USA:PG-13 (original rating) | USA:PG (educationally enhanced version)

Filming Locations:

Appleton, Wisconsin, USA

Company:

Kathbur Pictures

Trivia:

Morgan Spurlock got the idea for the documentary when he was lying on his couch at his family's house shortly after Thanksgiving dinner, watching TV when he saw the news about two teenage girls suing McDonald's for making them obese.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Although a calorie is the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 degree Celsius, a food Calorie is actually a kilocalorie (aka "kilogram calorie" or "large calorie"), so the nutrition expert's definition is correct in this context.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Children: A Pizza Hut! A Pizza Hut! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut! A Pizza Hut! A Pizza Hut! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut! McDonalds! McDonalds! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut! McDonalds! McDonalds! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut! I like food! I like food! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut! You like food! You like food! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Kim Possible: Grande Size Me (#4.7)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Yummy Yummy Yummy

Exposing an epidemic

"Supersize Me" 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 McDonald's-only diet.

What amuses me about the negative "reviews" for this film at IMDb is how the majority of the naysayers focus on exactly one thing: Spurlock'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 wouldn't be a bit surprised to find out that's what's happening, either. Certainly, anyone who's watched the political BS pour in to commentary for Michael Moore's documentaries knows how it's done.

However, if you actually take the time to watch the film, you'll see something quite different emerge: a pattern of childhood indoctrination, poor nutrition, inadequate exercise, and skyrocketing obesity rates, that's sweeping this nation like a plague. Spurlock's self-afflicted experiment is, as I've mentioned, a continuity device that unifies the broad range of the film within a single case study. In the total scope of what's addressed in this film, it's a relatively small part, and many decry it as unrealistic.

But 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.

It cannot be overemphasized that this condition is widespread. Those arguing "personal responsibility" have to answer the question of how it is that suddenly, over the last 30 years, so many people have "chosen" 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 what's been happening to the kids of America. Is the "french fry" truly the only vegetable we can afford to serve to school kids, aside from the dubious catsup? How children could be expected to show "personal responsibility" above and beyond that exhibited by their likely-obese parents in such an environment of brand franchising, 2nd-rate meal "programs", and cutbacks in PE/recess time is a matter that I invite all fast-food apologists at IMDb to explore.

For 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, "Supersize Me" 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: don't eat the fries!

8/10