This is not the movie to see just before lunch. In fact, it is not the movie to see right after a big lunch either.  But it does provide a bit of food for thought.  In the never ending quest to find entertainment suitable and safe for children this movie has been dubbed a winner.  $60 million has been grossed so far, and dat’s a lot of meatballs.  Speaking of gross, this movie has the appearance of one of the Biblical plagues— God raining down food on the over-indulgent. After a while all that food is a gross out, and has gross effects on the over consumers.

The story is of course based on the children’s book which bears the same name as the movie.  It is quite true that some of the best creative writing out there can be found in children’s book  (see e.g the forthcoming movie adaptation of the award winning book about ‘Wild Things’).    But this movie does not intend to just provide fast food movie fare for the masses, it intends to hit you in the gut.  And it does, in more ways than one.

The story is about one Flint Lockwood, child and yung man inventor, though most of his inventions are either not needed or not ready for prime time yet.  We have here the typical story of the geeky and nerdy child who grows up to make something of his life through creativity.  I did not see this movie in its 3D version, and frankly watching it right after lunch, it would have been too much to handle— what would my wife say if I came home with pizza and hot dogs all over my clothes?  But also typical of such movies is that we have a budding romance— with a weather girl, Sam Sparks, in this case who like Flint has had a nerdy past and appearance.  Sparks eventually do fly between the Flintlock and the female.  And then there is the father of Flint who runs the bait and tackle shop, and has trouble communicating with his computer age whiz kid. But I digress.

This movie, while it is about bloating on fast food (e.g. see the mayor who decides to supersize himself), is in fact notably svelte when it comes to plot and length (less than an hour and a half). This was a small mercy after watching all that food roll across the stage.   What is interesting about this movie is that it is not self-indulgent.  It uses fast food to critique fast food— an original idea to say the least.  It’s a sort of comic version of the documentary SuperSize Me.

The message however is not just about moderation, or too much of a good thing.  The message is that what we crave is not necessarily what we need or what is good for us.  And the further message, that the road to popularity and success should not come at the expense of other people’s health, is a welcome one as well. Are you listening soda pop, fast food, junk dessert companies??  Of course there is an irony, in that I am sitting in a theater with people eating precisely the stuff that the movie is critiquing.   Sigh. 

It is not a surprise we now have more and more TV shows about obese people trying desperately to lose weight quickly. ‘America’s Biggest Loser’ is a winner in the ratings, and also for the persons involved if they stick with the program.  Self-indulgent America is indeed committing the sin of gluttony right, left, and center, and reaping the horrible consequences.  And so there is a timeliness of this film which seeks to reach our children, if not us as well. But as for the likelihood that the actual message of the film will be received and acted on— well I am forecasting cloudy, with a chance of very little repentance. Isn’t it amazing that the very same ministers who most rail at the sin of drinking or drinking in excess say not a word about the sin of gluttony, and indeed are often Exhibit A of the problem. Maybe they need to hear the tale about young Flint Lockwood and his Mayor……