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Review : Supersize Me on DVD
2004 did see some exceptionally good documentary movies and my favorite was Supersize Me. This flick is a look at some of the problems with the western fast food diet and while it has really simple premise it succeeds at achieving depth and perspective on the subject. The films subject, director Morgan Spurlock went on a thirty day McDonald's only food binge and he made his documentary about his experiences mixed with interviews with regular people and experts.
For thirty days he ate three meals at McDonald's, he had to eat everything on the menu at least once, he had to super size it whenever asked, he could not eat or drink anything not from McDonald's and he could not walk more than an average office worker. Over his experiment he gained 25 pounds and developed major liver dysfunction, mood swings and depression. He had professional health experts watching him but he had worse effects than any of the experts predicted. It was the interviews and section on the privatization of the lackluster public school lunch program that really opened my eyes. He has a very cute Vegan chef girlfriend who did not really approve of his film project.
The movie is up for an Oscar for best documentary. There is going to be an made for school educational cut of the movie that will be used in schools around the world. My mom is a home ecc high school teacher and I need to send her a copy of this film. McDonald's has tried to ignore this movie in the US but in Australia McDonald's launched a negative ad campaign against this movie but it ended up creating attention to the movie. I guess there is no such thing as bad press. There is a pretty nice website for and there even a Pac-Man clone flash game.
One of the reasons for the success of the movie is that Spurlock is pretty likable and it never feels like a lecture. This ended up being a very fun educational documentary that is hard to forget. The funny thing is that Morgan Spurlock was turned down for USC film school five times and now is us up for his first Oscar. The movie points out that the public health problems it is not entirely the fault of the consumer and not entirely the fault of the corporations. Supersize me is a very well done movie with a contemporary style and is very educational and entertaining.
Jake at February 17, 2005 
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Comments
Wow Jake, I think I'll go rent it and watch it tonight!!
Posted by: Mom at February 18, 2005 3:31 PM
The problem with his thesis is that you can eat fast food without getting fat or suffering health problems. In the film, he ate everything supersized and drank sugary cola. I eat fast food a few times a week, I always get the smallest burger, either no or small fries and a diet pop, and it hasn't adversly affected my waistline or my cholesterol level. The problem is not the industry, the problem is people, people who choose to eat supersized food that puts over 1000 calories in their body at one sitting. If people were smarter, they would know better and simply order a cheeseburger, hold the fries and a medium diet coke.
Posted by: scorpius at February 20, 2005 1:52 PM
In the film he does stress moderation and he is not a militant vegan. The film is about those millions of Americans (and people all over the world for that matter ) that can't handle moderation and have serious problems. The film also covers how the industry has been deceptive in trying to hide the nutritional information about its product. The whole point of the film is to show how the industry says in one side of it's mouth how normal it's product is and then on the other when they are in the court room about how everyone knows how bad their product is. Overall it was a fun movie about fast food. Except the stomach surgery.. That was quite disturbing.
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at February 20, 2005 2:06 PM
Well, if a person does not know that deep-fried potatoes, fried beef with cheese on top, and milkshakes are high in fat, cholesterol and calories then that is their fault and no amount of industry denial or trickery absolves the individual of that responsibility.
The corporation isn't the problem, it's individual stupidity and irresponsibility
Posted by: scorpius at February 20, 2005 4:01 PM
What about the marketing to children who can't tell when they are being manipulated and lied to with a multi-billion dolor budget?
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at February 20, 2005 10:28 PM
"Supersize Me" was a hot topic for discussion yet I think the movie works because
a)
clever clever marketing
b)
Big M is a brand that "everyone" knows
c)
appealing topic
----
aside from that (and I haven't seen the movie yet) it seems pretty clear that eating 1 month a very limited diet of ANY food (even from the best restaurants) would lead to health problems.
Posted by: Jim at February 21, 2005 1:19 AM
Yeah I watched it when it came out on DVD. I was basically wondering what he was getting at. Who doesn't know that eating nothing but fast food can be adverse to your health? Hell, after watching it I decided to film my own documentary. I will drink nothing but beer for 3 months and the shocking conclusion will be me developing a beer gut.
Posted by: Jason Pugh at February 21, 2005 7:54 AM
A beer gut is actually from a dammaged liver pooling fluid behind it because of scarring. I wonder if you can do that in three months.
But his point was to just do a documentary on the American fast food diet.
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at February 21, 2005 8:07 AM
I've never seen an ad that implied that MickyD's food was healthy or wholesome. But even if I had, it is still free speech and it is still the responsibility of the parent to teach the kid good eating habits. Also, by the time a kid is old enough to be able to order food on their own they should have enough brain power to know that it isn't good for you. If they don't, they are a lost cause and a burden on society...
Posted by: scorpius at February 21, 2005 12:26 PM
If you watch any kids TV for a half an hour or so I bet you will come across a commercial for a fast food chain that does not list the nutritional dangers of the food product in the add. They do not show fat kids in their commercial instead they have cartoon characters trying to get a mental imprint that will last generation.
Super size me is not that hard on the fast food companies it just explores the facts and it does talk about personal and corporate responsibility.
Posted by: Jake of 8bitjoystick.com at February 21, 2005 7:16 PM
i think it was a great film because it does point out both the problems with society and with the corporations who produce the foods. i may just be a thirteen y/o but i think that it was a movie that does take in all the issues.
thats just my opinion though...
Posted by: bloody valentine at September 27, 2005 10:35 PM
I beleivw that nobody should ever eat fast food, it is extremely unhealthy an really has no point. Not enough people want to acctually cook real food in a real oven rather than gobble down an oversised burger that is filled with chmicals and fat.
p.s The movie is really cool
Posted by: Nobody at September 22, 2006 8:36 AM
fast food really suvks and if you really think about it its pretty gross because its made with whatever its left from the cow they cut it all in tiny pices and thats what they serve us... and also if you guys actually like fries and burgers try to do it at home its much much healthier and you wont regret after eating it...
Posted by: someone at October 10, 2006 3:53 PM
