Super Size Me | Teen Ink

Super Size Me MAG

By Anonymous

     "McMust-See!" That is what I say about the engrossing documentary about Mickey D’s. "Super Size Me," created by Morgan Spurlock, was recently released on wide-screen DVD. There is no doubt that Spurlock earned his best director award at the Sundance Film Festival by risking his life to prove a point to all Americans.

Inspired by a lawsuit that two overweight teenagers filed against McDonald’s, Spurlock decides to travel to McDonald’s restaurants across the U.S. to perform an experiment: show what happens to him after 30 days of eating McDonald’s food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. He can consume nothing that does not come from McDonald’s - including water - and must try everything on the menu at least once. He must also always accept and consume a "super-sized" meal when it is offered. He also decreases his activity level to that of the average American. The results are astonishing!

Spurlock goes on to attack the methods that McDonald’s uses to lure kids, including playgrounds, birthday parties and Happy Meal toys. Would you believe that first graders who didn’t recognize a photo of George Washington could easily name Ronald McDonald? A group of people in Washington, D.C. could not recite the Pledge of Allegiance, but could sing the entire "Big Mac Jingle!" What has happened to our country?

Spurlock comes across as an extremely likable guy. It is easy to put yourself in his place as it takes him 22 minutes to finish his first super-size meal and then moans, "Oh, McStomachache ... McGurgles ... McGas!"

Luckily, Spurlock is intelligent enough to be closely watched by a cardiologist, a gastroenterologist, a general practitioner and a dietician. The doctors are amazed at the drastic decline in his health and urge him to stop, but he vows to continue.

With cool, colorful graphics and entertaining cartoon pop-ups (like one showing how chicken nuggets are nothing more than a McFrankenstein creation containing hardly any chicken yet lots of preservatives), the film manages to present many medical facts and statistics in an easy- to-understand and enjoyable format. The catchy music with hilarious lyrics (i.e. "Super Size, Super Size, the American way. Getting fat, getting broke, either way you’re gonna pay!") is sure to make you chuckle, and interviews with doctors, lawyers and overweight people really keep this movie from becoming a boring documentary.

"Super Size Me" is not only extremely entertaining but also highly educational. I now have a serious beef with McDonald’s and am actually sickened by the thought of eating their food. After seeing this experiment, I think this film should be in the horror section of video stores. The results are truly scary and hopefully this documentary will cause people to talk about the growing problem of obesity.

I think schools should be required to show this in health classes. While kids may find the facts hard to digest, they need to learn to take responsibility for what they put in their bodies and that their choices in life have serious consequences. I highly suggest you spend your money renting this video instead of sinking your teeth into even one more "heart attack on a bun." It might just save your life!



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This article has 5 comments.


i love this so much!

jess said...
on May. 19 2015 at 5:00 pm
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and all the detailed description you provided. I felt like I wanted to be there!

on Sep. 16 2013 at 9:34 pm
TheSkyOwesMeRain GOLD, Irvine, California
13 articles 1 photo 299 comments

Favorite Quote:
Life isn't measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments which take your breath away.

You are only as strong as your weakest link.

My teacher showed this in science class a few years ago, and I haven't eaten at McDonalds ever since :P I agree that everyone should watch this, it's a real eye-opener! 

on Dec. 7 2009 at 5:15 pm
lunarbabe BRONZE, Sacramento, California
3 articles 3 photos 10 comments

Favorite Quote:
"what kind of ice cream do you want?" -anyomous & "helpin you relax when mother nature attacks your slacks" -snl

okay for the record its not only girls. and also what do you know? girls have difficulty losing wieght and its the medias fault i mean does anyone know how were supose to deal with thinking girls look like toothpicks everywhere ANd have huge breast? i doubt it! and there airbrushed! so when you say its girls fault you dont know the presure were under! as for the movie it was good and sueing the company for unheathy food is reasonable THEIR FEEDING YOU LIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (no pun intended)

tsuki said...
on Nov. 30 2009 at 9:21 am
I don't actually think it's McDonalds fault for the girls getting fat. It's their own, and whoever buys them the food. Mcdonalds doesn't hold a gun to their heads and says buy our food or die! It's just the American to sue people for everything they have. How does sueing a company solve the girls problem? They're still FAT! Lose the weight or deal with it!