Super Size Me, 2004 ★★★★☆

Fast food has long defined America's culture and junk food conglomerates like McDonalds', Pizza Hut, and KFC have become cultural icons. Until recently, nobody thought twice about grabbing a hamburger and double soda for lunch but obesity replaced tobacco as the number one killer in America and all hell broke loose. America reacted in the way it knows best to voice a protest. They dragged the multinational junk food companies to court demanding punitive damages for ruining their health. Although their actions were wrong, their oversized clogged heart was in the right place. The fast food companies insist that although their food is not healthy, it cannot kill a person and is not dangerous as it is made out to be. Or is it? Super Size Me answers those questions through a self-tested experiment.

Super Size Me is an amazing documentary centered on director Morgan Spurlock's attempt to eat nothing but McDonalds' food for a month. According to physician reports', he is perfect for his age and build prior to the ridiculous diet. He begins binging on the cheeseburgers, McGridles, hash browns, French fries, and of course the accompanying Coke as he tours all over America. He super sizes his meals only when asked to, which incidentally he is one-third of the time. Slowly but surely, the fast food begins to show its effect as Morgan puts on 13 pounds after just ten days. He walks as much as an average American so the exercise is minimal. He throws up after his first super size meal, which takes him more than 30 minutes to eat. At the end of the month, after being strictly warned to give up his diet by his doctor, he is 22 pounds overweight; his cholesterol level has doubled so has his chances of a heart ailment. His liver has deteriorated to abysmal levels. He suffers from extreme mood swings and depression when kept away from fast food, suggesting that it might be addictive. His body muscle has turned to flabby fat and has a noticeable paunch. Conclusion: Fast food acts faster than you think and is dangerous in many more ways than you think.

He intersperses his documentary with interviews with children, people on the street, academicians, and dietitians. The most disturbing sight was the meals offered in public schools and subtle tactics employed by fast food joints to attract the most gullible demographic - children. Once they are hooked, they keep coming back for more until they require additional adjectives to describe their obesity problems. Marketing tactics like constructing playpens, sponsoring school events, and creating an advertising icon lures the kids. Ronald McDonald, for example is more recognizable than George Washington, Jesus Christ or George Bush. One funny incident stood out when a kid recognized Jesus Christ as George Bush; Bush can thank his political strategists for that association.

Although I deride fast food and wish for a more healthy diet, several factors can lure me away too - time, money, gastronomical cravings, or plain laziness. It is a difficult task, keeping you away from the gimmicks.

The fad to steer away from capitalistic consumer society has hit a new high (low?) when Freegans attempt to redefine recycling [via Boing Boing]. I hope we don't have to go to that extent.