Review of Fast Food Nation (2006) by Sobrina I — 04 Jun 2009

Fast Food Nation, a fictional movie based on a non-fictional book about the fast food/meat industry, isn't a bad film...but it is a weird film. Basically, it deals with an ensemble cast of characters who all have ties to "Mickey's"--a chain fast food joint.

There's a teen girl who works at a Mickey's; an illegal immigrant who works at the meat processing plant where the cows are slaughtered to provide meat for the burgers; a marketing director for Mickey's who realizes that even the top executives are being lied to about what's really in the meat, etc.

Through their various stories we basically find out that...the fast food industry is corrupt! There's fecal matter in the burgers! The cows aren't treated well at the plant! The illegal Mexicans who work there are treated even worse! Non of this is surprising.

Scenes that are powerful and intense are weighed against scenes that are completely absurd and silly--for example, when a group of self-righteous, PETA-esque college kids decide to tear down the fence surrounding the cattle at the plant to set the cows free.

..only to realize that cows are too stupid to run for their lives. Oh, and did I mention that Avril Lavigne plays one of these kids? I am NOT kidding! I think Fast Food Nation could have been a much better film if it had focused on just one story rather than try to juggled 4 or 5 different plots lines.