Super Size Me

Director: Morgan Spurlock

Institute History

  • 2004 Sundance Film Festival

Description

Why are Americans so fat? Two words: fast food. What would happen if you ate nothing but fast food for an entire month? In Super Size Me, a scathingly tongue-in-cheek documentary of epic "portions," filmmaker Morgan Spurlock does just that and embarks on the most perilous journey of his life. The rules? For 30 days he can't eat or drink anything that isn't on McDonald's menu; he must wolf three squares a day; he must consume everything on the menu at least once and supersize his meal if asked.

Spurlock treks across the country interviewing a host of experts on fast food and an equal number of regular folk while chowing down at the Golden Arches. This enthralling film reveals that McDonald's spends 1.4 billion dollars a year on advertising, insidiously luring children in with playgrounds and happy meals. What they don't do is return calls from pestering filmmakers.

Spurlock's grueling drive-through diet spirals him into a physical and emotional metamorphosis that is downright harrowing and will make you think twice about picking up another Big Mac. A fascinating and truly alarming film, peppered with irreverent music and hilarious graphics, Super Size Me chomps into the legal, financial, and physical costs of America's hunger for fast food.


(Archives note: see also YouTube Channel.)

— David Courier

Screening Details

Sundance Film Festival Awards

Credits

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