Super Size Me - Super Review

Since it was required in class to write a review on Super Size Me I thought I would post it just for fun...Keep in mind I did have to answer a few questions as asked by the professor.

To start things off Super Size Me was a compelling story told by Morgan Spurlock who takes a McDonald’s eating binge for a month to show off its negative side effects.

The film provided a very real and educational look at what can happen if someone partakes in the indulgence of 3 square meals a day at a friendly neighborhood McDonald’s. The movie hit home for me due to the nature of the content and it’s something we see every day. It does make you realize that not only is the food unhealthy for you but it also is something that can shorten your life by many strides.

The realistic nature of Morgan being an average guy who was in good health before eating all the McDonald’s meals shows in shocking detail what can happen and that’s what makes the movie so profound.

All this was not met without some negatives, the lack of detail on some of the situations and scenarios left me a little disenchanted. It would have been nice to see what exactly Morgan did to get back on track with his healthy lifestyle that he once led. By showing others what exactly he did could provide a glimpse on what can be done to reverse the negative effects of the binge eating that occurred.

Now what 5 things stood out in this movie? Well for starters, yes fast food is bad for you! The marketing campaigns that these fast food companies run do target the youth of America which is heartbreaking in a way because they are the future of this country and you don’t want the future to be unhealthy. The education is not out there in America on how to eat healthy, all the while big companies who promote fast foods can spend many times more money on their ads. Contrary to popular belief not always is a salad good for you, as shown in the premium salad at McDonald’s. And finally, portion control is well, out of control. The fact remains that portions were a great deal smaller in times long past. Add to that fact that in other countries the portions are quite a bit smaller for soda, fries, and other items on the McDonald’s menu and that just emphasizes the American term “Super Size Me”.

The film did leave short the long road ahead of Morgan, where we could have seen what he had to go through just to get back to his ideal weight. Knowing how easy it is to pack on the pounds is one thing, but something more compelling might have shown how hard it was for Morgan to loose that weight.

The film is something that could bring to light the cold reality of the eating habits we have here in America to our most important asset, the nation’s youth. By showing the youth of America early on the problems associated with eating unhealthy food as shown in this movie, we can help educate them into making better, healthier, food choices when presented with unhealthy options. I mean, when was the last time when you heard a child refuse a Chicken McNugget?

So in all I would recommend this film as required watching for anyone who is overweight or even those who eat out many times during the week. Helping educate the nation on healthier eating is something that will only benefit our society. It’ll allow folks to lead healthier happier lives, and may cut down on the road rage just a bit since less people will be on the road attempting to cram into an overcrowded drive through.