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 | Meal | School | Food Industry

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)
• Palisades Tartan (2009) (UK) (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:

At the San Francisco premiere Morgan Spurlock said that getting permission to shoot in NYC McDonalds was often denied (in which case they would often hide the camera or go out to the car and eat), but to acquire consent in less paranoid cities generally consisted of the following exchange: "What are you guys filming here?" "We're shooting a MOVIE!" "OK."

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Near the end, when Morgan Spurlock says, "Why not do away with your Super Size options?" the water condensation runs up the drink.

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 "SpongeBob SquarePants" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Super Size Me

Not a GREAT movie, but definitely a good and important one. (***)

Fast food is good. I freely admit to running through fast food drive-thrus (Wendy's, Taco Bell and McDonald's being my top 3) often, sometimes several times a week. And I'm not the only one. I'm also one of the many millions of people in the country who are, uh...not thin. Think there's a connection?

In "Super Size Me", a documentary from talented debut filmmaker Morgan Spurlock that manages to be both entertaining and horrifying, he attempts to draw a parallel between the fast food culture we live in and the rampant (and ever-increasing) rate of obesity in America.

To do this, he launched into a little science experiment. A 33 year-old New Yorker in excellent health, he would eat nothing but McDonald's for an entire month, to gauge the effects on his body. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at McDonald's and whenever they asked him to supersize, he would have to accept.

Before starting, he consulted three doctors, a cardiologist, a gastroenterologist, and a general practitioner, all of whom said this experiment obviously wouldn't be GOOD for him, but that the damages would be minimal.

Instead, the results were pretty shocking. Spurlock gained almost 30 pounds (over 10 in the first week), saw his cholesterol skyrocket, and experienced frequent nausea, chest pains, mood swings and loss of sex drive.

During this month he also drove around the country, interviewing several different people on the topic (including a "Big Mac enthusiast" who has eaten over 19,000 Big Macs). His research on our fast food culture definitely yields some interesting information, especially when he interviews a group of 1st-graders, and more of them can identify Ronald McDonald than Jesus or George Washington.

"Super Size Me" isn't perfect. It's a little repetitive and has a certain thinness to it (no pun intended!) that prevents it from being one of the truly great comedic documentaries of recent years like "American Movie" or "Bowling For Columbine".

But even if it falls short of greatness, it's an entertaining and thought-provoking film (especially if you're, uh...not thin).

Spurlock is a witty and engaging host (sort of like Michael Moore but not as much of a windbag), and I also liked his girlfriend (a vegan chef!) who looks on his experiment with a mixture of amusement, horror, and dismay. Just like we do.