X
- 2004
- PG
- Roadside Attractions
- 1 h 40 m
- 2004
- PG
- Roadside Attractions
- 1 h 40 m
Summary Why are Americans so fat? Find out in Super Size Me, a tongue in-cheek - and burger in hand -- look at the legal, financial and physical costs of America's hunger for fast food. (Samuel Goldwyn Films)
Directed By: Morgan Spurlock
Written By: Morgan Spurlock
- 2004
- PG
- Roadside Attractions
- 1 h 40 m
- 2004
- PG
- Roadside Attractions
- 1 h 40 m
Super Size Me
73
7.3
Where to Watch
Summary Why are Americans so fat? Find out in Super Size Me, a tongue in-cheek - and burger in hand -- look at the legal, financial and physical costs of America's hunger for fast food. (Samuel Goldwyn Films)
Directed By: Morgan Spurlock
Written By: Morgan Spurlock
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 37 Critic Reviews
73
86% Positive
32 Reviews
32 Reviews
11% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
3% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 37 Critic Reviews
73
86% Positive
32 Reviews
32 Reviews
11% Mixed
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
3% Negative
1 Review
1 Review
A deliciously amusing socio-culinary prank.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 104 User Ratings
7.3
81% Positive
84 Ratings
84 Ratings
13% Mixed
14 Ratings
14 Ratings
6% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 104 User Ratings
7.3
81% Positive
84 Ratings
84 Ratings
13% Mixed
14 Ratings
14 Ratings
6% Negative
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
A look at how fast food influences - for better or for worse - the culture, the economy and the health of the United States and perhaps the rest of the world. What the documentary filmmaker did to corroborate his theory was as reckless as it was dangerous. After watching this, you will think twice about trying a Big Mac. And I think so will I.
Report
Spurlock's movie is the real-life slapstick record of a kamikaze Mac attack. Schlosser's book is the contemporary equal of Upton Sinclair's classic meatpacking muckraker "The Jungle."
An amusing McGimmick.
The results are as entertaining as they are sobering.
Insofar as one can distinguish the investigative research from the career move, this Sundance prizewinner is effective muckraking, but it lacks much of a political program apart from the message that we're poisoning ourselves.
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.
Report
The lawyers that teamed up with Spurlock look like they've ran out of tobacco companies to sue. This documentary is just using scare tactics to kill fast food companies and pass the blame from the people WHO MAKE THE DECISION to eat the fast food to the corporations themselves because we can't handle being told that we've become too lazy to exercise or eat a proper diet. A poor excuse for muckraking; this just fuels the "let's sue everyone" fire. However, it was entertaining, so it gets a 5. If you've never seen it, skip it and see Fathead instead.
Report
Start by being totally convinced of something and then try to invent an experiment to fit your preconceived notions... aka "exactly how NOT to conduct an experiment". Super Size Me fails at the most important level... the one where Spurlock is supposed to convince me that fast food is killing people. His weak concept involves him eating McDonald's food three times a day every day for a month and if asked, accepting the "super size" upgrade. In one scene he eats so much garbage food that he exceeds his stomach capacity and vomits. Then we're all supposed to be surprised and horrified that he (gasp!) gains weight. He mentions nothing about exercise, healthy snacking or other responsible living choices... just the same monotonous drone of "fast food kills... fast food kills..." He never seems phased by the fact that NOBODY eats freakin' McDonald's 84 TIMES A MONTH! Of course most McDonald's menu choices aren't healthy, but it's not intended to be a daily staple!!! As long as you consume it in responsible moderation, you wont gain an ounce. That's what RESPONSIBLE ADULTS do. If you don't want to eat fast food... then DON'T! And the irresponsible folks who can be saved from making bad food choices aren't going to be convinced by this halfassed production. The final joke comes at the very end when we're told that Spurlock's girlfriend (i think) is planning an entirely vegan menu to cleanse his body of the evil McDonald's effects. Yet another wild claim that's just assumed to be correct and isn't backed up by a shred of evidence, like the rest of this film. A mildly entertaining presentation of a completely bad experiment.
Report
Production Company
The Con,
Kathbur Pictures,
Studio On Hudson
Release Date May 7, 2004
Duration 1 h 40 m
Rating PG
Genres
Tagline A film of epic portions.
Awards
Academy Awards, USA
• 1 Nomination
Sundance Film Festival
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Satellite Awards
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
