听 Morgan Spurlock won the director's award at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival with Super Size Me, a "compelling and hilarious" investigation into America's obsession with fast food. Against the advice of doctors, Spurlock embarks on a burger-guzzling odyssey to find out what would happen if he ate nothing but McDonald's for 30 days. Needless to say the suits at McDonald's were outraged as critics and moviegoers salivated over this barmy documentary.
Beefed Up
Exclusive to the UK edition of this DVD is an engaging interview with Spurlock, who explains the genesis of the film (a lawsuit brought against McDonald's by two obese schoolgirls) and the rationale behind committing himself to a 30-day all-McDonald's diet - something his cinematographer called "a really great bad idea". He also chews the fat in a hugely entertaining feature commentary, which for some inexplicable reason, he shares with his girlfriend Alex Jamieson (who briefly appears in the film). As well as plenty of behind-the-scenes insights, he confesses, "To this day, if I smell a Big Mac, I want it."
Extra Relish
You'll be gripped by morbid fascination as author of Fast Food Nation Eric Schlosser breaks down the science of fast food. Have a barf bag handy as he divulges such stomach-churning facts as: one McDonald's hamburger patty can contain meat from over 1000 cows. Meanwhile fast food fanatic Don Gorske fills all the criteria for the stereotypical Midwest American (complete with snazzy mullet!) when he reveals to Spurlock that he eats Big Macs for every meal - once eating 25 burgers in a single day.
There's more Midwestern weirdness in one of four deleted scenes that include Bob and Myra Bougher who boast the biggest collection of McDonald's merchandise known to man. Arguably even more terrifying is The Smoking Fry experiment in which a Big Mac and fries refuse to decompose.
Frequently gross but utterly absorbing, Super Size Me offers much to sink your teeth into on DVD.
EXTRA FEATURES
The Super Size Me DVD is out to buy on Monday 3rd January 2005.
