Super Size Me

Super Size Me documents the escapades of independent filmmaker Morgan Spurlock as he interrogates one of the world's most lucrative and powerful corporate bodies-McDonald's. Spurlock embarks on a quasi-experiment to test whether, according to a statement made by a fast food chain representative, such retailers serve 'nutritious' food. The rules are simple: for thirty consecutive days a strict McDonald's diet must be adhered to, and portions must be super sized when asked by the counter staff. Armed with the latest 'fat facts' on the obesity crisis afflicting America and goofy wit, Spurlock paints a humorous but alarming picture of the institutionalisation of the fast food industry in contemporary culture. The paradox is encapsulated in a scene in which a group of children are shown images of recognisable personalities. Without hesitation, all are able to identify Ronald McDonald. The eye-opener is when one of those youngsters then mistakes Jesus Christ for George W. Bush.
Super Size Me is not a documentary solely about McDonald's. It uses this multinational chain as a platform from which to address broader questions of America's burgeoning waistline, commercial greed and the lawful ruthlessness of advertising campaigns as it wrestles with issues of personal responsibility. The gut reaction to Super Size Me is so obvious that it appears a moot point to debate. The (de)merits of takeaway food have been widely documented on countless occasions. It features as a mainstay in news reports, medical studies and the curriculum in Home Economics and Health Education in primary and tertiary institutions. There are no hidden skeletons in the closet to be ousted. Spurlock's acknowledgement of this is clear, as are his intentions. The film's raison d'être resides in why the demand for such outlets continues despite existing health warnings. As Spurlock shovelled a Big Mac and half a gallon of soda in his mouth only to graphically regurgitate it fifteen minutes later, I caught...