The Future of Food
Metascore
65 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
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  1. San Francisco Chronicle
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Curiel
    100
    One of 2005's must-see documentaries.
  2. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Jami Bernard
    75
    Garcia's somber narration is a turnoff, but this plucky little diatribe gets you thinking about the larger implications facing future generations.
  3. New York Post
    Reviewed by: V.A. Musetto
    75
    Enlightening documentary.
  4. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Wesley Morris
    75
    Anyone looking for a more practical horror film than ''The Fog" should try The Future of Food.
  5. Seattle Post-Intelligencer
    Reviewed by: Bill White
    75
    Suffers from a simplistic reductionism that suggests buying from local organic farmers might help avert the possibility of a worldwide famine triggered by Monsanto's suicide gene. It is a noble and quaint solution to a situation that won't be easily swayed by consumer votes.
  6. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: Richard James Havis
    70
    The result is a powerful, if one-sided, attack on the GM food industry. The film should appeal to audiences with an interest in healthy living.
  7. L.A. Weekly
    Reviewed by: Ernest Hardy
    70
    As Future untangles the many ways in which our food supply has been co-opted and tainted in pursuit of a booming bottom line, you realize that beneath its tasteful façade, Garcia's documentary is actually nothing short of a pure horror film.
  8. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Tasha Robinson
    70
    Garcia's far-more-info-than-tainment style seems a little staid, but Future Of Food's clear, intelligent journalism and rich cinematography help take the edges off the immense brick of data Garcia lobs through the window of America's biotech industry.
  9. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: J.R. Jones
    70
    I tend to approach green documentaries with all the enthusiasm of an unemployed logger, but this hard-charging digital video about genetically modified organisms kept me on the edge of my seat with its lucid exposition and frontal assault on Monsanto.
  10. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Ken Fox
    60
    Despite its shortcomings, it's an effective clarion call that will no doubt stir audiences to action, even if it doesn't quite prepare them for the important battle ahead.
  11. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: James Crawford
    60
    Wisely eschews standard anti-corporate bombast for measured tones.
  12. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Kevin Crust
    60
    Detailed and intensely researched documentary.
  13. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Stephen Holden
    60
    Quietly inflammatory film.
  14. Variety
    Reviewed by: Robert Koehler
    50
    Genetically-modified (or GM) fruits and vegetables are a topic of raging debate in scientific and ecological circles, so it's a shame writer-director Deborah Koons Garcia opts to show only one side of the argument.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.2 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 5 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 1 out of 4
  1. JimG
    4
    Seemingly informative film killed by lifeless droning narration. Not clear what the counterpoint is to the film's asssertions as seems to be no effort to present opposing views. Not sure what people saw in this film.… Full Review »
  2. NicoleV.
    10
    A must see for anyone who eats food and cares about what they eat. If you know to buy organic or Non GMO foods, this doc will NOT scare you into not eating, just to be a bit more cautious. They present many facts that get you thinking about how GMO foods may affect the future. One in particular is the US gov't patent on the suicide gene- that is something we should all know about to make sure it is NOT used. Hopefully nobody sees this doc to be entertained as it is meant to enlighten us, though it definitely keeps you captivated! Ignorance is bliss until the truth comes crashing down on you. It is time now we are informed about the hidden aspects of our country. GMO definitely falls under that category.… Full Review »
  3. MaxP
    10
    Scary S**T! I am afraid to eat anything. This is a great and scary look into our food system and the corporations who are getting way too much control into our food.… Full Review »
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