Tuesday, 5 October 2004

Arts

Film: Super Size Me

[McDonalds and the UCG Cinema]

Last year, I overheard a seven year-old girl proclaim, "I don't want to eat in McDonalds, mummy. I don't want to eat somewhere they have to bribe you to eat their food by giving you a toy." Half an hour later almost identical words were repeated by the mother, and whether or not the message was understood (or even whether it was valid), you knew it had been learnt.

Super Size Me isn't a particularly polished film. (This much is clear in its below average sound mix and some pretty shoddy footage.) But it's been playing in Ipswich for three weeks now, so there must be some other reason why people are still going.

The film says nothing new - like the girl we all know the nutritional value of junk food - but perhaps the message hasn't sunk in. Perhaps that's why folk are going to the film. Junk food tastes good, it's a hard habit to break, so we need to be reminded once more of the facts.

McDonald's are working hard to convince us the film's not just about them, that they agree with much of the film's message. I'm more inclined to disagree with them, but still those quarter pounders taste great.

Posted by pab at 20:52 | Comments will be back later in the year. Please email me instead!