Movie Review - Food, Inc.

Beware. This movie is EVERYTHING you NEVER wanted to know about the food you eat. It could potentially leave you with a troubling case of a little something I like to call PDAD... post-documentary anxiety disorder. "You'll never look at dinner the same way again"? They're not lying.

I waited what seems like a very long time to watch this movie. I remember when it was uber-popular on my college campus a couple years ago. I had 0% interest. A crazy hippy movie about the evils of how meat is processed? No, thank you. I'll have my McDonald's burger and enjoy it too! Recently though, my lifestyle has been turned completely inside-out. Woah, I actually care about what I put in my body and how it gets on my plate! Mind-blowing. You know, I think I just wasn't ready before. I wanted to live in denial, ignorance, pride - whatever you want to call it. I thought I had the right to have anything I fancied, however I wanted it. Well, I actually still have that right; I still get to choose what I want to eat. But now I make better choices. 

Unlike Forks Over Knives, this documentary doesn't push a no-meat ideal. In fact, right at the beginning of the movie one of the commentators acknowledges the fact that his favorite meal is a hamburger and french fries. Ok, I can relate to that! So far, so good. I was surprised that this film wasn't condemning me for eating meat.

It's when they get down to the root of things that the documentary becomes messy. And just downright scary. 

A lot of topics are covered: meat processing, government involvement in the food industry, seed production, human rights, and more. Eesh. No doubt about it, that's a lot to swallow in an hour and a half! I honestly had no idea what my food had to go through before it reached my grocery store shelves. In that respect, I loved this documentary. Food, Inc. is absolutely PACKED with information and is guaranteed to start some serious thinking. The film sets out to expose the truth behind the system, and that it does. 

One major complaint I have is that the filmmakers skimped on a very important part of the story, which is this: what do I do now?? Sure, they have an inspiring little blurb at the end of the movie before the credits roll; and yeah, there are clips about this one farmer dude who raises grass-fed beef and such. But really? That's it? Tell me more! How can I help things change? Well, beyond buying from my local farmers' market, of course. I think I've got that point down by now. 

Anyway, the bottom line here is: watch this movie. It's a good one! Even if it doesn't change your life, you will learn something. And that in itself is a plus. 

My Rating: 9 out of 10

Worth The Watch: Absolutely