Morgan Spurlock's film is another example of the glorious invasion of the of the cinema schedules by the political feature-length documentary. While British TV continues to gorge itself on reality TV crud, following the American model for uncritical, corporation-sponsored programming, the cinema is becoming the place these days for radical film for a mass audience. “Super Size Me” is, by the director's own admission, very much in the Michael Moore mould. He sets out on a health-endangering burger binge, eating only at McDonalds for 30 days. The film is journalistically strong, packed with information on the health disaster which is fast food. There are some superbly manipulative sequences, like the stomach-stapling operation waltz.
As someone who made a film against McDonalds 15 years ago, in the era when Ronald sued anyone who moved against him, I was amazed to see this film hit the schedules without being actioned out of existence. This is presumably thanks to our heroes Helen and Dave from the McLibel case, who made the Big Mac bite off more than they could chew. The arguments in the film will be familiar to most indymedia readers, few of whom will eat regularly at McDonalds. Nevertheless, the shots of the bloated figure of Spurlock wheezing as he struggles up the stairs, and his doctor's shock at the potentially fatal decline of his liver, graphically portray part of the reasons for opposing this evil corporation. Labour exploitation, the sourcing of the beef from recently-deforested land, and anti-environmental packaging are not the subjects of this film, which focusses exclusively on the effects on the consumer. It's helpful for the film's outreach to those consumers that Spurlock himself is no vegetarian, despite his Vegan chef girlfriend! But it seems unlikely that this film will make the Fahrenheit 9/11 break-through, out of the arts cinemas and into the multiplexes. So it's largely preaching to the converted at the moment, which is a big shame, because it's hugely entertaining and accessible. Could indymedia screenings help?

“Super Size Me” is now showing at the Phoenix Picture House, Walton St, Oxford  http://www.picturehouses.co.uk/site/cinemas/Oxford/local.htm

For more information on the McLibel 2, including their on-going case in the European court, see  http://www.mcspotlight.org/