Having never read Eric Schlosser´s novel Fast Food Nation, I had very few expectations going in to Richard Linklater´s adaptation of the best seller. The two teamed up to adapt the book for the screen, keeping mostly the books themes and ideas to construct this eye-opening tale of greed and deception in America´s fast food industry. Part satirical drama, part attempted character study, the end result is a mixed bag that is on the whole, worth checking out.
The film is an ensemble piece that follows various characters in their dealing with a particular fast food chain, Mickey´s. The first of these is Don Anderson (Greg Kinnear), an exec at Mickey´s, who is sent by his boss to Colorado to investigate the behind the scenes of a meat processing plant in Colorado. Don is sent out because the fecal count in their current line of burgers "The Big One" is much to high, which is drawing some concern from the higher ups, which they hope to suppress in order to avoid a public scandal.
However, while Don is dealing with the meat problems, two illegal Mexican immigrants, Raul (Wilmer Valderrama) and Sylvia (Sandino Moreno) find their lives changing and taking shape as they are both exploited at the processing plant in question. It´s interesting to watch their journey as they have to make sacrifices and constant struggles to achieve their own little slices of the American dream. On the flip side there is also Amber (Ashley Johnson), who is toiling away at a part time job at one of the local Mickey´s restaurant. She´s essentially a typical high school kid, a little smarter than most and driven by a passionate uncle (played by Ethan Hawke) and a Gilmore Girls style relationship with her mother (Patricia Arquette).
What the film does wrong is that it never gets to in depth with any single character. A film featuring any of their stories could have easily been constructed and carried much more weight in exploring their plights while taking an interesting look at the industry in question. Instead, the film opts to casually move along, touching upon some interesting ideas, though never fully exploring them to their fullest extent.
What can Don do with the knowledge he has learned about the people he works for? How can Raul and Sylvia survive in an environment designed to exploit them for all they´re worth? Can Amber escape a seemingly dead end job in a small town and make more for herself? None of these questions are ever really posed, though they are there and readily apparent. Plus, there really isn´t much interconnection between the stories or how they relate other than they´re all "related" through the Mickey´s corporation on one level or another. Loose ends are never tied and ultimately it leaves you rather unsatisfied.
Despite these shortcomings, the film has many strengths, the story is engaging enough and interesting enough to raise those questions and many more. Still, Linklater and Schlosser do some solid work in criticizing the fast food industry and the blasé lifestyle it promotes. It throws the hue off the rose colored glasses which the fast food industry often shines upon itself. In some ways it´s built as a thriller, working to a gruesome and somewhat grotesque ending that you´re well aware is coming. When it finally arrives, there is a sense of dread and horror but never quite to the full extent you might hope.
The film is an ensemble piece that follows various characters in their dealing with a particular fast food chain, Mickey´s. The first of these is Don Anderson (Greg Kinnear), an exec at Mickey´s, who is sent by his boss to Colorado to investigate the behind the scenes of a meat processing plant in Colorado. Don is sent out because the fecal count in their current line of burgers "The Big One" is much to high, which is drawing some concern from the higher ups, which they hope to suppress in order to avoid a public scandal.
However, while Don is dealing with the meat problems, two illegal Mexican immigrants, Raul (Wilmer Valderrama) and Sylvia (Sandino Moreno) find their lives changing and taking shape as they are both exploited at the processing plant in question. It´s interesting to watch their journey as they have to make sacrifices and constant struggles to achieve their own little slices of the American dream. On the flip side there is also Amber (Ashley Johnson), who is toiling away at a part time job at one of the local Mickey´s restaurant. She´s essentially a typical high school kid, a little smarter than most and driven by a passionate uncle (played by Ethan Hawke) and a Gilmore Girls style relationship with her mother (Patricia Arquette).
What the film does wrong is that it never gets to in depth with any single character. A film featuring any of their stories could have easily been constructed and carried much more weight in exploring their plights while taking an interesting look at the industry in question. Instead, the film opts to casually move along, touching upon some interesting ideas, though never fully exploring them to their fullest extent.
What can Don do with the knowledge he has learned about the people he works for? How can Raul and Sylvia survive in an environment designed to exploit them for all they´re worth? Can Amber escape a seemingly dead end job in a small town and make more for herself? None of these questions are ever really posed, though they are there and readily apparent. Plus, there really isn´t much interconnection between the stories or how they relate other than they´re all "related" through the Mickey´s corporation on one level or another. Loose ends are never tied and ultimately it leaves you rather unsatisfied.
Despite these shortcomings, the film has many strengths, the story is engaging enough and interesting enough to raise those questions and many more. Still, Linklater and Schlosser do some solid work in criticizing the fast food industry and the blasé lifestyle it promotes. It throws the hue off the rose colored glasses which the fast food industry often shines upon itself. In some ways it´s built as a thriller, working to a gruesome and somewhat grotesque ending that you´re well aware is coming. When it finally arrives, there is a sense of dread and horror but never quite to the full extent you might hope.
Having never read Eric Schlosser´s novel Fast Food Nation, I had very few expectations going in to Richard Linklater´s adaptation of the best seller. The two teamed up to adapt the book for the screen, keeping mostly the books themes and ideas to construct this eye-opening tale of greed and deception in America´s fast food industry. Part satirical drama, part attempted character study, the end result is a mixed bag that is on the whole, worth checking out.
The film is an ensemble piece that follows various characters in their dealing with a particular fast food chain, Mickey´s. The first of these is Don Anderson (Greg Kinnear), an exec at Mickey´s, who is sent by his boss to Colorado to investigate the behind the scenes of a meat processing plant in Colorado. Don is sent out because the fecal count in their current line of burgers "The Big One" is much to high, which is drawing some concern from the higher ups, which they hope to suppress in order to avoid a public scandal.
However, while Don is dealing with the meat problems, two illegal Mexican immigrants, Raul (Wilmer Valderrama) and Sylvia (Sandino Moreno) find their lives changing and taking shape as they are both exploited at the processing plant in question. It´s interesting to watch their journey as they have to make sacrifices and constant struggles to achieve their own little slices of the American dream. On the flip side there is also Amber (Ashley Johnson), who is toiling away at a part time job at one of the local Mickey´s restaurant. She´s essentially a typical high school kid, a little smarter than most and driven by a passionate uncle (played by Ethan Hawke) and a Gilmore Girls style relationship with her mother (Patricia Arquette).
What the film does wrong is that it never gets to in depth with any single character. A film featuring any of their stories could have easily been constructed and carried much more weight in exploring their plights while taking an interesting look at the industry in question. Instead, the film opts to casually move along, touching upon some interesting ideas, though never fully exploring them to their fullest extent.
What can Don do with the knowledge he has learned about the people he works for? How can Raul and Sylvia survive in an environment designed to exploit them for all they´re worth? Can Amber escape a seemingly dead end job in a small town and make more for herself? None of these questions are ever really posed, though they are there and readily apparent. Plus, there really isn´t much interconnection between the stories or how they relate other than they´re all "related" through the Mickey´s corporation on one level or another. Loose ends are never tied and ultimately it leaves you rather unsatisfied.
Despite these shortcomings, the film has many strengths, the story is engaging enough and interesting enough to raise those questions and many more. Still, Linklater and Schlosser do some solid work in criticizing the fast food industry and the blasé lifestyle it promotes. It throws the hue off the rose colored glasses which the fast food industry often shines upon itself. In some ways it´s built as a thriller, working to a gruesome and somewhat grotesque ending that you´re well aware is coming. When it finally arrives, there is a sense of dread and horror but never quite to the full extent you might hope.
The film is an ensemble piece that follows various characters in their dealing with a particular fast food chain, Mickey´s. The first of these is Don Anderson (Greg Kinnear), an exec at Mickey´s, who is sent by his boss to Colorado to investigate the behind the scenes of a meat processing plant in Colorado. Don is sent out because the fecal count in their current line of burgers "The Big One" is much to high, which is drawing some concern from the higher ups, which they hope to suppress in order to avoid a public scandal.
However, while Don is dealing with the meat problems, two illegal Mexican immigrants, Raul (Wilmer Valderrama) and Sylvia (Sandino Moreno) find their lives changing and taking shape as they are both exploited at the processing plant in question. It´s interesting to watch their journey as they have to make sacrifices and constant struggles to achieve their own little slices of the American dream. On the flip side there is also Amber (Ashley Johnson), who is toiling away at a part time job at one of the local Mickey´s restaurant. She´s essentially a typical high school kid, a little smarter than most and driven by a passionate uncle (played by Ethan Hawke) and a Gilmore Girls style relationship with her mother (Patricia Arquette).
What the film does wrong is that it never gets to in depth with any single character. A film featuring any of their stories could have easily been constructed and carried much more weight in exploring their plights while taking an interesting look at the industry in question. Instead, the film opts to casually move along, touching upon some interesting ideas, though never fully exploring them to their fullest extent.
What can Don do with the knowledge he has learned about the people he works for? How can Raul and Sylvia survive in an environment designed to exploit them for all they´re worth? Can Amber escape a seemingly dead end job in a small town and make more for herself? None of these questions are ever really posed, though they are there and readily apparent. Plus, there really isn´t much interconnection between the stories or how they relate other than they´re all "related" through the Mickey´s corporation on one level or another. Loose ends are never tied and ultimately it leaves you rather unsatisfied.
Despite these shortcomings, the film has many strengths, the story is engaging enough and interesting enough to raise those questions and many more. Still, Linklater and Schlosser do some solid work in criticizing the fast food industry and the blasé lifestyle it promotes. It throws the hue off the rose colored glasses which the fast food industry often shines upon itself. In some ways it´s built as a thriller, working to a gruesome and somewhat grotesque ending that you´re well aware is coming. When it finally arrives, there is a sense of dread and horror but never quite to the full extent you might hope.
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