Super Size Me

Super Size Me. Directed by Morgan Spurlock. USA, 96 minutes, rated 12.

This is a brilliant documentary. It works on every possible level, which includes being informative, subversive and highly entertaining. Morgan Spurlock has produced a low budget independent film that, in the wake of its enormous success, has had staggering consequences. Spurlock sets out on his experiment to eat nothing but food from McDonalds for a month with three strict rules. First, he has to accept super-size portions if they are offered; second, he can only eat what is available on the McDonalds menu; third, he has to eat every item on the menu at least once. His health is monitored and within two weeks he is being strongly advised to end the experiment. Spurlock is shown struggling through the enormous super-sized portions of burger, fries and coke and is then immediately and violently sick. His girlfriend, who is actually a vegan chef, expresses her concerns (including the loss of his libido) but Spurlock sees it through to the end. He has gained a substantial amount of weight and his overall health has deteriorated quite dramatically. To counteract the disastrous consequences of eating nothing but McDonalds food for a whole month he switches to a vegan detox diet (organised by his girlfriend) to recover. Disappointingly, he has now reverted to eating meat. McDonalds have reacted to the film by removing all super-size options from their menus. This is a startling achievement. In 1990 the ‘McLibel’ trial (the longest trial in British legal history) began when McDonalds prosecuted two activists for daring to distribute a leaflet which stated that McDonalds sold junk food. Their reaction to the impact of Super Size Me demonstrates that they have actually learned something. Bizarrely, McDonalds executives have been stating in interviews that they agree with the basic message of the film. Yes, eat this rubbish and it will make you fat and unhealthy. Super Size Me is an outstanding documentary and essential viewing – if only it was compulsory viewing in every school.

Paul Freestone, December 2004

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This page created 25 December 2004 by Paul Appleby.