 |
|---|
Film Review
Super Size Me
One-Off Productions Ltd (2004)
Starring Morgan Spurlock
Written and directed by Morgan Spurlock
Review by Jenni van Wageningen
In recent years American documentaries have attracted plenty of attention. Bowling for Columbine which probed the gun problem was both shocking and informative. Oddly enough it was also entertaining and grimly amusing in its own way. The same can be said for Super Size Me.
With obesity on the increase in the USA the time was ripe to focus on fast food in general and MacDonalds in particular as the arch villain. So a gutsy Morgan Spurlock does not shrink from sticking his neck out and enduring some humiliating experiences in his guinea pig role.
For a month he grits his teeth and subjects himself to nothing but McDonalds fare - three very square and sometimes super size meals a day under the ‘golden arches’ in 20 cities throughout America.
No less than three doctors confirm his excellent health and fitness before he begins his experiment; and they monitor his very obvious and alarming deterioration as the weeks roll by. Morgan not only gains more than 12 kilos, he also finds that his liver is on the verge of breakdown and that he is suffering from depression, headaches, palpitations, increased blood pressure, raised cholesterol levels and a decreased sex drive. He is in fact not a very happy chappy.
What’s more, Spurlock shows how McDonalds manipulates and attracts children with its alluring playgrounds, toys and friendly clowns, ensuring that they are hooked for life. He leaves no room for doubt in our minds as he examines the link between fast food advertising aimed at children and the increase in obesity among young people.
As well he takes pot shots at large corporations connected with the food industry, pointing out that they have a social responsibility. Yet he does not push the point that McDonalds alone is to blame for the obesity problem as a recent court case in the USA has suggested. Individuals are free to choose what they consume and ill-informed decisions by parents and schools can affect children.
Ultimately, this movie is a critique on our western society in a much more direct way than would be possible in a feature film. An overwhelming message is Think before you eat! It is all too easy to overindulge our appetites without any thought of long term effects on our health.
Spurlock is concerned that we know what we are eating, that we are aware of the calories and the fat content of fast foods. If you have visited McDonalds lately you will know that this kind of information is now available on the wrapper of your Big Mac.
Perhaps we need to consider whether we are eating ourselves to death? Our bodies are not just a gift of God, but also ‘temples of the Holy Spirit’ and worthy of responsible care in our service of the Lord.
While this movie serves up food for thought , it does concentrate on one or two defined issues in the McDonalds arena. Not so well known is McLibel: Two worlds collide which tells the story of two young London environmentalists with a much bigger beef. In 1986 they produced a leaflet accusing MacDonalds of false advertising, selling unhealthy food, exploiting workers and children, causing third world poverty, torturing animals and destroying rainforests. McDonalds took them to court in a trial which lasted 6 years.
This movie is not just about the fat content of French fries. It tackles the greater global evil of remorseless multinational corporations and exposes such unpleasant issues that our appetite for a juicy Big Mac may be forever be spoiled. Although the movie never reached the cinemas, it can be accessed free online at www.mclibel.com.
God calls us to be discerning and responsible in all areas of our life. To discover that the simple act of consuming a hamburger has a trail back to the exploitation of the poor and oppressed in a third world country may leave us with a nasty taste in our mouths. We also have a God-given responsibility to care for the environment, so the destruction of Amazonian rainforests in order to provide more grazing space for burger-destined cattle does not sit easily with this worldview. The Macdonalds issue challenges us on many fronts – personal, social and environmental.
I emerged from Super size me feeling vaguely nauseous, rather like the last time I visited MacDonalds. I also quietly vowed never to set foot in a fast food establishment again. It was very effective aversion therapy indeed. One final piece of advice: Do not buy popcorn when you go to see this movie.
Books
Music
Movies
Return to top of page
All material on this site © 2004 Trowel & Sword