Supersize me!
Supersize me!: a documentary feature looking at the effects of the fast food industry on America in general, and specifically, one person’s health. Morgan Spurlock, director, takes it upon himself to eat nothing but McDonald’s food for a month (morning, noon and night) and check the effects on his body. Alongside this, he looks at various aspects of the fast food industry, for example the way they advertise, appeal to kids and worm their way into schools. In fact, one of the most amazing sections was when he showed pictures of several well-known faces to a group of 5-year-olds. They could all identify Ronald McDonald, but only one could say which picture was George Washington. (Most bizarrely, one picture was held up - not in view of the camera - and the child guessed ‘George W Bush?’. It was then revealed to be a picture of Jesus)
The director’s girlfriend is a vegan chef, and can barely stand to watch him do his experiment. At the start, he is in perfect shape. By the end, his doctors find that he has pickled his liver, just like an alcoholic would. He gets sick straight after his first supersize meal, then depressed as the month goes on and finally addicted to the food he is eating. Not really wishing to reveal the end, but he does survive his ordeal; however, it took him 14 months afterwards to lose the weight he had gained. In total, he put 30lb of sugar into his body over the month - 1lb per day! Think about that next time you tuck into a Big Mac (I’m sure it won’t stop me, by the way, but I certainly feel better informed).
Apparently a few weeks after the film premiered in the US, McD’s took the supersize option off their menus. They said it was nothing to do with the movie at all.
Highly recommended, with the following note of caution: there is a bit of swearing as I recall, and if you’re squeamish in any way you might find it hard to watch in places.
Unimpressed. Nobody is forcing anyone to eat junk food and to the best of my knowledge, McDonalds have never said eating their products constantly is a good thing!
Comment by Simon Dillon — 19 August, 2005 @ 11:12 am
I agree with Simon, completely pointless film. A bit like filming yourself drinking nothing but urine for a week and showing that you get ill.
Comment by Chris — 23 August, 2005 @ 9:34 am