Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

Super Size Me (2004)

Written and directed by Morgan Spurlock
Morgan Spurlock plays himself


The Storyline / plot

Morgan Spurlock goes on a thirty day McDonalds diet. It is his intention to find out just what would happen to a person if they eat nothing but McDonalds for a full thirty days. He is very careful throughout the experiment. He has a slew of doctors and diet experts that keep a close watch on his health during the experiment. Spurlock is a pretty healthy guy about thirty five years old. He keeps track of his weight, cholesterol, caloric intake, sugars and fats among other things over the thirty day experiment. Spurlock Also looks at some frivolous lawsuits as well as some of the ways which processed foods are made. He also looks into some of the school lunch programs across America. In the end you will think twice about ordering Chicken nuggets from McDonalds.


Conclusion

America, the land of the fat. Obesity is second to smoking as the number one preventable killer in the United States. Now that Mrs. Beaver (Mom) has to go to work so the family can make their house payment, car payment and keep up with the Jones, it seems that the days of a good balanced diet are long gone. I wonder how many families actually sit down for breakfast and dinner anymore? I think most mothers these days are working. It is very demanding to get the kids ready for school, go to work, make soccer practice, come home, do the laundry, help with home work, make dinner, do the dishes and perhaps write a review with their spare time. It is much more practical to grab some fast food on the way home from soccer practice but what are the continuances?

The real problems with obesity is the lifestyle that Americans live with today. It goes a lot deeper than McDonalds. For instance what were kids eating for breakfast, lunch and dinner in the year 1965? What are they eating for breakfast, lunch and dinner in 2004? Kids growing up in this day and age are eating tons of sugars and carbohydrates. They are eating preservatives and processed foods. It can not be healthy and it will surly put weight on young kids. I believe that Super Size Me shows one small part of the problem, McDonalds.

The problem lies with everything that the children eat today, including fast foods. Morgan Spurlock touches on some of these problems when he looks into the school lunch programs across America. When parents feed their kid a bowl of Fruit Loops in the morning, then send the children to school with money for lunch, where they will buy more sweets, then top it off with a fast food dinner, the children will become unhealthy and are sure to become overweight. I feel sympathy for the children. Any grown adult that does this to themselves are just lazy and perhaps ignorant.

I learned quite a lot from the documentary. I had no idea that eating at these fast foods joints were such a serious hazard to ones health. I don‘t eat at fast food places very often, at all. After seeing this film, I won‘t eat at them very often, if I do at all. I think that Spurlock was able to get his point across with his documentary. The only issue that I have with the film is that it nearly blames McDonalds for the entire obesity problem. McDonalds is just one part of a big problem. Aren‘t gown adults responsible for what and how they eat anymore? The film is definitely worth seeing. The guy has some valid points and brings up some interesting issues. The directing was good, the pace of the film was decent and keeps the viewer interested. I‘d recommend this film to anyone.

RUNTIME: 1 Hour 36 minutes
Rated : [PG-13] for graphic medical procedures and language.

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This is an entry into the Lean—N—Mean III Write Off, Movies Category. Thanks Tom
Lean—n —Mean III

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© 2004 Joe McMaster

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older