Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken!

Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken! is a compelling, thought-provoking documentary sequel that provides a perceptive and often unnerving depiction of the fast-food industry in America. The film is written, directed, and produced by Morgan Spurlock, the man behind the original 2004 documentary, Super Size Me, which exposed the harmful effects of excessively consuming fast food. Only this time, Spurlock steps beyond the consumer side of the industry, delving instead into the production side to reveal the truth behind the operations.

Instead of being the subject who absorbs obscene amounts of fast food, as per the first film, Spurlock places himself into the narrative as a fast-food creator. The film's title, 'Holy Chicken', references Spurlock's journey of launching his own fast food franchise. The documentary shows him adopting the entire process, from growing and rearing chickens, understanding livestock nurturing practices, and turning the grown chicken into a deep-fried, crispy specialty.

What makes Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken! stand out in the crowded field of food documentaries is its focused depiction of an elaborate and often sinister system that appears designed more to deceive the consumer than to feed them healthily. It demystifies buzzwords like “all-natural,” “organic,” and “artisan,” highlighting how the fast food industry often resorts to marketing gimmicks to draw health-conscious customers.

Guiding us through this venture are some memorable characters, adding vast depth to the narrative heart of the documentary, significantly Jonathan Buttram, a dedicated, hard-working farmer. His stand against the agribusiness giants adds an edge to the tone, providing a human face to the issues surrounding chicken farming. Doug Brown, another key subject, offers insights into state of artificial colouring in the food industry, offering a unique and shocking perspective of deceptive industry practices.

The continuity between the first and second Super Size Me movies is evident. Spurlock again maintains his focus on the fast food industry, examining the contrasting dynamics between consumerism, animal planet conservation issues and the psychological impact on the consumer. However, this sequel digs much deeper into how corporations manipulate both farmers and consumers, exposing how the industry cloaks actual practices in the garb of misleading labels and marketing slogans, offering an image of fast food that's drastically different from the bitter truth.

Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken! is a powerful documentary that explores the moral issues and economic discrepancies of these food giants using a format focused on humor and shock value. Spurlock's sardonic style of storytelling emphasizes the cruel irony of the industry. It not only maintains a continuity to the commentary that was initiated in its predecessor but also offers a call-to-action for the masses to question what they are feeding, not just into their stomach, but also into the robust economy of the fast food industry.

Equally heartbreaking, exasperating, and enlightening, Super Size Me 2 becomes a conversation starter, requiring audiences to question just how much they know about the food they consume daily. It takes viewers on a tour of a world obscured by corporate marketing and PR, tossing staggering truths around every corner. At times, it offers a cynical view of a world populated with willing victims and unscrupulous exploiters, showing us a snapshot of an industry that hides its skeletons behind the veneer of shiny advertisements and mouth-watering images of golden-fried delicacies.

Overall, Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken! does not shy away from the ugly truths of the fast food industry. It is a fitting sequel to the first Super Size Me and continues Spurlock's mission of educating audiences about the downfalls of the fast food industry. This hard-hitting eye-opener sure makes it difficult for its viewers to look at their fast-food chicken sandwich the same way again.