Super Size Me (2004)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Morgan Spurlock

Writer:

Morgan Spurlock (written by)

Release Date:

21 May 2004 (Canada)

Genre:

Documentary | Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

A film of epic portions.

Plot:

An irreverent look at obesity in America and one of its sources - fast food corporations.

Plot Keywords:

Fast Food | Obesity | Food Industry | School | Meal

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 5 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Morgan Spurlock	...	Himself
Daryl Isaacs	...	Himself (as Daryl M. Isaacs MD Internal Medicine)
Lisa Ganjhu	...	Herself (as Lisa Ganjhu D.O. Gastroenterologist & Hepatologist)
Stephen Siegel	...	Himself (as Steven Siegel MD FACC Cardiologist)
Bridget Bennett	...	Herself (as Bridget Bennett R.D.)
Eric Rowley	...	Himself, exercise physiologist
Mark Fenton	...	Himself, former editor, Walking
Alexandra Jamieson	...	Herself - Morgan's Girlfriend (as Healthy Chef Alex)
John Banzhaf	...	Himself - lawyer (as John F. Banzhaf III)
David Satcher	...	Himself - former Health Minister (as Dr. David Satcher)
Lisa Young	...	Herself - nutrition professor (as Dr. Lisa Young)
Kelly Brownell	...	Himself
Jacob Sullum	...	Himself - journalist
Tommy Thompson	...	Himself - US Secretary of Health
William J. Klish	...	Himself - medicine doctor (as William Klish)
Jared Fogle	...	Himself - spokesman for Subway
John Robbins	...	Himself - journalist and writer
Don Gorske	...	Himself - hearty eater of big macs
Mary Gorske	...	Herself - Don's wife
Ron English	...	Himself - painter
Margo Wootan	...	Herself (as Dr. Margo Wootan)
Marion Nestle	...	Herself
Barbara Brown	...	Herself - SODEXHO executive
Kay Glover	...	Herself, head cook
Greg Bretthauer	...	Himself, dean
Debra Larson	...	Herself, school social worker
Paul Stitt	...	Himself (voice)
Marlene Canter	...	Herself
Gene Grabowski	...	Himself - GMA deputy CEO
Phil Lawler	...	Himself, phys ed instructor
Brian Philips	...	Himself - physical training instructor
Gerald N. Tirozzi	...	Himself
Neal Barnard	...	Himself
Catherine Schilcher	...	Herself, nutritionist (voice)
Bruce Howlett	...	Himself - fat patient
Adam Naaman	...	Himself
Carl Geisler	...	Himself - surgeon
Lisa Howard	...	Herself, McDonald's spokesman (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mary Bollino	...	Herself - Naperville High School restaurant supervisor
Caitlin	...	Herself - waitress for McDonald's
Samuel Hirsch	...	Himself - lawyer
Tammy Howlett	...	Bruce's wife
Michael Jordan	...	Himself (archive footage)
Ronald McDonald	...	Himself (archive footage)
Ashley Sandy	...	Herself
Kacie Sandy	...	Herself
Laura Sandy	...	Herself
Kymme Simchak	...	Herself
Britney Spears	...	Herself (archive footage)

Directed by
Morgan Spurlock

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Morgan Spurlock		written by

Produced by
Joe Morley	....	executive producer
Dave Pederson	....	associate producer
David Pederson	....	associate producer
Morgan Spurlock	....	producer
Heather M. Winters	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Scott Ambrozy		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Stela Georgieva
Julie Bob Lombardi

Art Direction by
Joe the Artist

Production Management
Michael Jackman	....	post-production supervisor
Stuart Macphee	....	post-production supervisor

Art Department
Ron English	....	McPaintings

Sound Department
Martin Czembor	....	sound engineer
Hans ten Broeke	....	sound designer

Visual Effects by
Robert Luttrell	....	digital film transfer supervisor
Jonah Tobias	....	digital artist

Camera and Electrical Department
Tracy Boulian	....	camera operator
Avi Gerver	....	camera operator
Julie Bob Lombardi	....	additional video footage
Julie Soefer	....	camera operator
Morgan Spurlock	....	additional video footage

Animation Department
Svilen Dimitrov	....	animator
George Georgiev	....	animation liaison: US
Goran Kissiov	....	supervising animator
Nikolai Lukianov	....	animation project manager: Zographic
Paulina Merekiova	....	assistant project manager: Zographic
Kalin Stoyanov	....	animator
Ivailo Tonchev	....	animator
Svetoslav Tonchev	....	animator
Kiril Yanakiev	....	supervising animator
Kiril Yanakiev	....	technical director: Zographic

Editorial Department
Haven Cousins	....	colorist
Thomas Edmon	....	digital intermediate supervisor (as Tom Edmon)
Jim Finn	....	negative cutter
Gwen Fry	....	high definition transfer
Grant Goodman	....	assistant editor
Richard Haylock	....	on-line editor
Abbi Jutkowitz	....	assistant editor
Corey Lincoln	....	post-production assistant
Alexander Livingston	....	post-production assistant
Robert Luttrell	....	digital intermediate supervisor
Mick O'Conner	....	high definition transfer
Olivia Relova	....	assistant editor
Ben Vaughn	....	high definition transfer
Matt Woo	....	on-line editor

Music Department
Jim Black	....	music consultant
Folkfoot	....	composer: additional music

Other crew
Albert Bramante	....	research assistant
Sean Connell	....	creative consultant
Joseph De Vito	....	creative consultant
Winston Emano	....	publicist
David Magdael	....	publicist
Steven Wallace	....	publicist

Production Companies

• Kathbur Pictures
• Con, The
• Studio On Hudson (in association with)

Distributors

• Roadside Attractions (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Samuel Goldwyn Films (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Showtime Independent Films (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• A-Film Distribution (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• ABL Augusta (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Aerofilms (2006) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Bazuca Films (2005) (Chile) (theatrical)
• Bir Film (2004) (Turkey) (theatrical)
• Diaphana Films (France) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• EDKO Film (2004) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Fandango (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Golden Village (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Monopole-Pathé (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Notro Films (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Prokino Filmverleih (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2004) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Solar Films (2004) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2004) (Canada) (DVD)
• Arts Alliance (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• Hart Sharp Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (2005) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Klock Worx Company, The (2004) (Japan) (all media)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Phantom Film (2004) (Japan) (all media)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2005) (Finland) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2005) (Finland) (VHS)
• Showtime Networks (USA) (TV)
• Sony Canada (2004) (Canada) (VHS)
• Sony U.K. Ltd. (2004) (UK) (VHS)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2007) (Finland) (TV) (TV2)

Special Effects

• PIXAN.com (digital effects)

Other Companies

• Devlin Video  high definition transfers (as Devlin Video International)
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production
• Heavy Light Digital  digital intermediate and film transfer (as HeavyLight Digital)
• Kinkysweet Recordings  soundtrack
• LVT  subtitles: French version
• Red Cottage Productions  audio post-production
• Sound One  post-production sound facility
• Zographic Film  animation

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language, sex and drug references, and a graphic medical procedure. (original version); Rated PG for thematic elements, a disturbing medical procedure, and some language. (educationally enhanced version)

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Taiwan:PG-12 | Czech Republic:15 | Sweden:7 | Portugal:M/6 | Chile:14 | Iceland:L | Finland:K-3 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Brazil:Livre | Canada:G (Québec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Hong Kong:I | Ireland:PG | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | Norway:A | Philippines:G | Singapore:PG (cut) | South Korea:12 | Spain:T | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12A (original rating) | UK:12 (video rating) (2005) | USA:PG-13 (original rating) | USA:PG (educationally enhanced version)

Filming Locations:

Appleton, Wisconsin, USA

Company:

Kathbur Pictures

Trivia:

Morgan Spurlock got the idea for the documentary when he was lying on his couch at his family's house shortly after Thanksgiving dinner, watching TV when he saw the news about two teenage girls suing McDonald's for making them obese.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The Blue Danube Waltz is by Johann Strauß not by Richard Strauss.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Children: A Pizza Hut! A Pizza Hut! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut! A Pizza Hut! A Pizza Hut! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut! McDonalds! McDonalds! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut! McDonalds! McDonalds! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut! I like food! I like food! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut! You like food! You like food! Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut!

Movie Connections:

References "Dragon Ball Z" (1989/I)

Soundtrack:

Pusher Man

An entertaining and interesting movie – but those who sneer at McDonalds or fat Americans are missing the point

Living with his vegan girlfriend, Morgan Spurlock decides to try and eat McDonalds for every meal for a month. At the same time he reduces the amount of exercise and walking to match that of the 'average' American to make for a fair experiment. After an initial bit of sickness he gets to enjoy the food and eats it three times per day. However after a week or two, his doctors begin to notice significant increases in body fat, cholesterol and blood pressure. Interspersed with this are interviews with experts on the nutritional value, marketing and impact of McDonalds and fast food generally.

Several years ago I read the book Fast Food Nation and basically that ended my interest in the main fast food outlets and saw my consumption of processed foods drop quite a bit. I did not become a born again Christian and still eat rubbish food and am no role model for healthy living! However, what I have notice in the press and in the audiences for this film is a rather smug 'look at them' attitude as if this has no impact in Europe and Americans are some sort of freak show and nothing to do with us. This film may focus on McDonalds because it is the world leader in fast food which is high in saturated fats but if all you take from this film is pleasure at seeing McDonalds taking a kicking then you are missing the point. The film was challenging to me and I hope it was to many viewers – but I have not eaten in McDonalds or Burger King since 2001 and a bad bout of food poisoning in early 2003 ended my ability to enjoy KFC. So why did I find it challenging? Well, because like many others, I eat too many saturated fats and, regardless of where they come from (oven foods, ready meals or fast food) I need to cut them down. Spurlock sends this message in a really entertaining way while also having good digs at McDonalds.

His relaxed style is refreshing and allows the facts to speak for themselves. He clearly doesn't like fast food as a concept but he is no Michael Moore and is only slightly biased. He is certainly a lot more interesting than his vegan girlfriend who is one of those overbearing self-righteous types who look down their nose at anything. His good humour makes the film but it is the documentary rather than the gimmick that kept me watching. The facts on obesity do speak for themselves and they are frightening and all the more so when you actually sit and think about what you eat – sweets, colas, ready meals, crisps, processed foods; whether it is salt, saturated fats or sugar, any of these foods spells trouble if they are not part of a balanced diet. My only fear of this film is that many viewers will look at McDonalds and say 'they are to blame, lets get them' and simply ignore that it is very easy to eat an unhealthy diet – go to any supermarket and you'll find 'easy' food served up quickly but without the things your body needs. I was challenged because I can easily veg out for several days and be too tired to cook decent food and this reminded me why I need to – hopefully many viewers will take that challenge and not just turn from one fatty diet (McDonalds) to another (ready meals).

I personally didn't find the film as funny nor as shocking as many commentators have said it was but it was still consistently entertaining and interesting, true not the most scientific of experiments but that is not the point. True, very few people eat McDonalds every day but many, many people do eat foods high in saturated fats everyday even if they are not all happy meals and, in this way, maybe Spurlock's experiment wasn't so far-fetched and, lets be honest, like their own lobbyist said – McDonalds are part of the problem. That the film has had an impact is undeniable – the super size option has been removed and how many salads did you see in McDonalds this time last year? It may seem unfair and I can understand why McDonalds has been quick to counter it and call it unfair and, in a way it is unfair – why should they carry the whole blame for an overwhelming surge in unhealthy eating, but I suppose that's what you get for being the market leaders!

Overall this was a very entertaining film that mixes its gimmick well with humour but also a good core of a documentary with interesting talking heads who don't rant or rave but simply look to the figures in most cases. However, I would say this; if you only see this film to sneer at those visibly unhealthy or to tear a strip off McDonalds then you are missing the bigger point – it is easy to eat unhealthy, cheap food no matter what brand it is – eating it every day and having a poor diet is a major problem and, if nothing else this should challenge all of us to look at our own habits and not just point and laugh at others.