Review of Super Size Me (2004) by Stevenf — 18 Sep 2013

It often takes extreme measures to outline extreme problems within an expanding society of accessibility to food of all varieties, especially fast food. Morgan Spurlock takes his documentary prowess and takes aim at the fast food industry and outlines the simple premise that everything is now bigger, or super sized if you will, weight, food and meal size, convenience and of course, lawsuits.

Spurlock goes at it on a personal level, combining very candid video logs while also taking an honest approach to the effects of his new diet, such as his sex life. His new regime is making a thirty day diet consist entirely of McDonalds food and drink for his three meals per day.

He goes through all the routine health tests before embarking on his experiment. While he does it, we also get to know the fast food giant that is Ronald and his french fries, while also asking passers-by how often they eat such greasy goodness, but more difficult questions like, What is a calorie? The results after mere days are quite startling, as Morgan eats his first Super Size meal and in turn vomits most of it back up again, the deterioration of his health in a mere two weeks is astounding, and the facts are equally disturbing, showing just how much more is now available than 20 years ago.

Where the challenge seems to take its starter from was a court case that was going on from two young girls who claimed that McDonalds was the cause of their obesity, through large consumptions. Morgan tries tirelessly to get a meeting with the McDonalds bigwigs but is unsuccessful.

The film is a true and often gobsmacking account at just how much damage people are doing to their bodies with that Big Mac or two, it shows the immediate impact of the media and how various celebrities are called upon for soft drink or fast food placements to help the sales, but it simply doesn't matter, the money is still made.

Spurlock worries all those around him with his drastic health change and it really hits home just how quickly things can change, but also just how much is in one of those meals. We see the difficulties in putting across a healthier message but we also see the reluctance of the ones behind the food, but at the end of the day, business is business, but in this instance, business can legally kill.