Super Size Me is a documentary that works as both a cautionary tale against eating "junk" food and also simultaneously provides the perfect form of infotainment (Information + Entertainment) to keep the audience interested. Morgan Spurlock whose The Greatest Movie Ever Sold was recently reviewed by me, went on a 30 binge of McDonald's food to see what sort of effects fast food can have on our body. Not surprisingly, this month long "extreme" experiment results in him putting his physical and mental health at risk and eventually culminates in him having a sort of addiction for the food his body has gotten used to. The biggest surprise factor for him and the doctors who keep a close watch is the fact that his liver is affected the most with food, which was not something they would have expected.
Every story has two sides. Yes obesity is a growing epidemic. I have seen it increase, especially in children, ever since the first international fast food joint opened in India. Yes this food needs to be advertised properly with all the positives and negatives of the food clearly available for the consumer. But then, no one is forcing the food down anyone's throat. If I decide to eat fast-food (which I must confess that I eat, although in moderation), it is simply my responsibility. The same goes for my child too. My daughter is my responsibility and when it came to making a school choice, I did look into the food being made available to her before applying.I do agree with Spurlock on the fact that fast-food has become the food of choice for most people because of its low cost and easy availability. I also feel that going to extremes to prove a point is sometimes required, so his experiment might seem a tad over the top, but it is effective. As a documentarian Spurlock shines. He doesn't preach but instead gives out all the information and lets the audience decide for themselves. His style is definitely calmer than some other documentary film makers, but nevertheless he manages to get results.
My liking for Super Size Me is because it's documentary film making with a purpose. It entertains, it informs, and in the end it occupies a little spot in your brain that activates every time you even think about eating fast-food. Will I stop eating fast-food? I don't think so. Will I be more conscious of what I eat and how much I eat? Most definitely.
