Spurlockıs film focuses specifically on the impact the fast food industry has had on Americaıs rising obesity problem. (Amusingly, we saw this film in a theater that was directly across from a McDonald's.) Motivated by the results of a court case in which two teenagers sued McDonald's for causing their obesity and lost due to their inability to demonstrate that a McDonaldıs intends their food to be eaten for every meal and that such a diet would be detrimental to oneıs health, Spurlock embarked on a 30-day journey in which he ate nothing but McDonald's for every meal. By weaving his personal adventure with corporate finger pointing and adding lots of facts and humor, ³Super Size Me² uses many of the same overtones that make Michael Mooreıs documentaries so entertaining and controversial.

In spite of the sobriety of the subject, humor is the driving force behind this film. Spurlockıs wit and sense of humor permeates the film from our introduction to the guy who has eaten nearly 20,000 Big Macs, to three women in front of the White House who have trouble correctly reciting the ³Pledge of Allegiance² but have no trouble singing the Big Mac jingle, to a group of small children, who, when shown pictures of George Washington, Jesus, and Ronald McDonald, can only identify Ronald without hesitation.

While many may argue that Spurlockıs ³McDiet² was extreme (after all, ³fast food² doesnıt always have to be so bad for you right? Just ask Jared from Subway) it is hard to deny the added twenty-five pounds, sixty-five points to his cholesterol, and liver function damage equivalent to that of an alcoholic. If nothing else, ³Super Size Me² is quite effective at bringing the steadily increasing problem of obesity in America to the attention of the public. With nearly 60 percent of current Americans overweight or obese it is time to ask the question, ³Is bigger always better?²

posted 05.19.04