SUPER SIZE ME
Directed by: Morgan Spurlock.
Produced by: Morgan Spurlock & The Con.
Director of Photography: Scott Ambrozy.
Edited by: Stela Gueorguieva & Julie "Bob" Lombardi.
Music by: Steve Horowitz & Michael Parrish.
Released by: Samuel Goldwyn.
Country of Origin: USA. 96 min. Not Rated.
DVD Features: Audio commentary by Morgan Spurlock. Deleted scenes. Extra interviews. Spanish subtitles.

Director Morgan Spurlock begins his assault on the fast food industry with a spew of horrific statistics: since 1980, the number of obese Americans has doubled; obesity is second only to smoking in preventative death; one in four Americans goes to a fast food franchise everyday. He poses the question, would it be dangerous to eat only fast food every day for a month? During this experiment - “every eight-year-old’s dream” - he will not exercise or walk more than the average American. If McDonald’s sells it, he’ll eat it. And if offered, he’ll order the gigantic Super Size meal, with retching results. Given the introductory statistical information, what will happen to Spurlock over the course of the experiment will be of little surprise.

Unlike the righteous anger of Michael Moore (Bowling for Columbine), Spurlock’s point of view is more of amazement as the state of his health deteriorates, as well as amusement regarding the prevalence of fast food. One of many interviews includes a group of tourists in front of the White House muddling through the national anthem, yet one of them recites - without hesitation - a McDonald’s campaign slogan. (You’ll probably know it, too.) Even as Spurlock repeatedly calls the chairman/CEO of McDonald’s for an interview, he knows he already has his answer.

Interspersed talking heads of U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher and Secretary of Health Tommy Thompson add weight to this fast-paced, humorous rant. Less insightful are interviews with teenagers, which deal more with body image, and a detour into stomach stapling. Although Spurlock refreshingly lacks the indignation of Moore, there is a sense of self-congratulation. Voyeuristic footage of obese people, shot from the neck down, veers toward a freak show. Still, the film succeeds for the most part because Spurlock is likable. He’s like a jovial frat boy binging on burgers instead of beer. Kent Turner
May 6, 2004

DVD Extras: Apparently the film wasn't long enough for the plethora of information director Morgan Spurlock racked up in his 30-day McDonald's-diet. He hilariously shares many bits of fast food trivia. An example: one fast food chain in one day produces enough garbage to fill up the entire Empire State Building. On a different note, a supermarket guru explains how the store aisles in the U.S. subliminally market junk food to children. Also included are interviews of people whose lives rotate around McDonald's - Bob and Myra Baugher, who have spent 20-some years and about $30,000 on their collection of McDonald's toys and products, and "The McDonald's Project," a team of young product designers who make such innovations as blankets for the homeless made of recycled cheeseburger wrappers. A highlight is an extensive interview with Eric Schlosser, the author of Fast Food Nation, who adds new and more refined details about the fast food epidemic in America today. And for those who want to see just how unnatural fast food is, Spurlock works in another experiment that tests how long McDonald's food lasts - an eye-popping outcome that will change your view of the Golden Arches forever. Hazuki Aikawa, journalist, director of the documentary Yancha
November 9, 2004