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Bigger, Stronger, Faster*
Magnolia Pictures


7.5

based on 20 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 11 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

MPAA RATING: Not Rated

In America, we define ourselves in the superlative: we are the biggest, strongest, fastest country in the world. We reward speed, size and above all else: winning – at sport, at business and at war. Metaphorically we are a nation on steroids. Is it any wonder that so many of our heroes are on performance enhancing drugs? Blending comedy and pathos, Bigger, Stronger, Faster* is a collision of pop culture and first-person narrative, with a diverse cast including US Congressmen, professional athletes, medical experts and everyday gym rats. At its heart, this is the story of director Christopher Bell and his two brothers, who grew up idolizing muscular giants like Hulk Hogan, Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger, and who went on to become members of the steroid-subculture in an effort to realize their American dream. When you discover that your heroes have all broken the rules, do you follow the rules, or do you follow your heroes? (Magnolia)

GENRE(S):	Documentary
WRITTEN BY:	Christopher Bell Alexander Buono
DIRECTED BY:	Christopher Bell
RELEASE DATE:	DVD: September 30, 2008 Theatrical: May 30, 2008
RUNNING TIME:	105 minutes, Color
ORIGIN:	USA

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

Bigger, Stronger, Faster is a portrait of a culture that claims to hate steroids but may, by now, be too pumped to do much about it.

Film Threat Don R. Lewis

Bell's documentary is an absolute must see for anyone taking part in any kind of debate about steroids.

Variety Peter Debruge

More scrupulously reported than your average Michael Moore film but every bit as entertaining, Bigger, Stronger, Faster* is as commercial as documentaries come.

Los Angeles Times Carina Chocano

Raucously funny and surprisingly insightful.

Chicago Tribune Teddy Greenstein

Bell confronts Smelly, labeling him a cheater. But he also sympathizes with him, explaining, "There is a clash in America between doing the right thing and being the best."

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

This movie is remarkable in that it seems to be interested only in facts.

The Onion (A.V. Club) Noel Murray

Attempts to look beyond the hysteria and consider exactly how and why a culture that values physical power has internalized the idea that steroid use in sports is a scourge.

Portland Oregonian Shawn Levy

Entertaining and informative.

Newsweek David Ansen

Perfectly reflects the range of this funny, disturbing and complex tale.

The New York Times Stephen Holden

Bigger, Stronger, Faster* left me convinced that the steroid scandals will abate as the drugs are reluctantly accepted as inevitable products of a continuing revolution in biotechnology. Replaceable body parts, plastic surgery, anti-depressants, Viagra and steroids are just a few of the technological advancements in a never-ending drive to make the species superhuman.

New York Daily News Joe Neumaier

Entertaining, smart and snappy, this terrific doc, a Sundance favorite, digs into the country's use of steroids and how it affects sports, pop culture and the self-image of young men.

Village Voice Michelle Orange

Scrappy, remarkably expansive, crazily watchable.

The Hollywood Reporter Richard James Havis

This everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach not only makes for pacey entertainment, it also allows director Christopher Bell to delve deep into the matter at hand.

Austin Chronicle Josh Rosenblatt

Full of revelations, all brought to light by Bell's good-natured, Michael Moore-lite dogging of athletes, health experts, government officials, and even his own parents.

San Francisco Chronicle Reyhan Harmanci

A smart, funny and edifying documentary.

Boston Globe Ty Burr

A hugely entertaining personal documentary about what steroids mean to American pop culture.

New York Post Lou Lumenick

While Bell makes the point that pros account for about 85 percent of total usage, he is more interested in why others - including a guy with the world's biggest biceps, who admits they repulse women - are so driven to be Bigger, Stronger, Faster*.

Washington Post Stephen Hunter

He treats jocks like humans, not stars or superheroes, and in the end has managed something unique for documentaries these days: It's as entertaining as it is fair.

Chicago Reader Andrea Gronvall

Bell presides over this insightful, often droll survey like a sweeter, buffer version of Michael Moore, trolling gyms, universities, and Congress to grill assorted experts.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer William Arnold

It's an interesting and eye-opening journey.

The average user rating for this movie is 7.5 (out of 10) based on 11 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

tonydjr gave it a9:
Great movie! About family, choices, the grayness of heroes, and the conflict between the regulation and usage of steroids for athletes, regular joes, and the ill, who need it the most. Makes you wonder about atheletes, their choices, how others perceive them, and what you would do given their situation.

Jon H gave it a0:
Some fat lazy deluded bible-bashing drug-taking family presenting their uninformed opinions on the silver screen as if they were scientific fact.

Derek S. gave it a9:
I thought the movie was perfect at showing the truth about steroids. Lou Lumenick is a dolt though, Bell showed that only 15% of the population using roids are professional athletes, with 85% being the average gym rat.

B Daddy gave it a9:
Documentary movies are usually boring, but this is informative and asks intelligent questions. I especially liked the interview of Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson -- 100m nemesis both caught using steroids. This will challenge your opinion as to why steroids are illegal -- it did mine.

Jay H gave it a7:
Very well researched and informative, it has a good balance on view points. Decent narration. I was always interested in the film, but it does get a bit repetitive. Still fascinating and it certainly makes you think.

arbie gave it a9:
Really, really fantastic. A wonderfully produced film that shows great balance -- I enjoyed this almost more for its quality and approach to the material than the material itself. The subjects are utterly human. It's easy to really want them to succeed as a result of this film.

Bigger, Stronger, Faster* Magnolia Pictures

Bigger, Stronger, Faster*
Magnolia Pictures