There was a time, not so long ago, when the opening of a McDonald's franchise in Moscow, Beijing, or -- Jesus wept -- Tahiti was seen as some sort of triumph of freedom, capitalism and the American way. However, now that America is officially The Fattest Nation on Earth -- with all the health problems like heart attacks, diabetes and fitting into airplane seats that come with it -- fingers are starting to be pointed at the purveyors of fast food.
Leading the charge is director Morgan Spurlock with his grease-busting documentary "Super Size Me," a witty, fact-filled and easily-digestible look at the excesses of the fast-food industry. Spurlock is obviously following in the footsteps of Michael Moore, in both his liberal use of satire and a first-person narrative. But more so than Moore, Spurlock becomes part of the subject of his film; to test his hypothesis that fast food is making America fatter, Spurlock resolves to eat nothing but McDonald's fare morning, noon and night for an entire month, and see what happens.
The results sure ain't pretty, but they certainly illustrate his point. In a mere 30 days Spurlock gains 11 kg, while his cholesterol count soars and his sex drive falters. The team of doctors monitoring his medical status become visibly alarmed. "Your liver is now like pate," warns general practitioner Daryl Issacs, a sardonic character who certainly deserves his own series.
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