Who's in It:Wilmer Valderrama, Catalina Sandina Moreno, Greg Kinnear, Bobby Cannavale, Ethan Hawke, Patricia Arquette, Bruce Willis
The Basics: I guess director Richard Linklater saw Super Size Me and decided that even though lots of people went to see that documentary, they might not want to go see one about the nasty inner workings of the fast food industry. So this fictional story based on the nonfiction book of the same name is him trying to trick people into learning things.
What's the Deal? This movie is gross. You should know that going in. You see slaughterhouse footage from what they call "the kill floor." And if you're not strong in the stomach, then you're going to (A) barf and (B) swear off eating meat forever. The part of the movie where you learn that there's often cow feces in the beef itself makes this the best commercial for veganism ever.
What Happens: It's a multiple-story movie. You get illegal immigrants coming over the border from Mexico and taking dangerous jobs in a meat-processing plant, a fast-food exec slowly becoming disillusioned with his job, a cynical industry guy who tries to set him straight, a mom and her soon-to-be-eco-activist daughter both working fast-food jobs and disgruntled teenage employees who regularly spit on the food. It's all good-intentioned, but none of these stories is all that mind-blowing. It's kind of all just the opening act for the cow-killing.
How to Let It Slide Right Off You: I was running late to this screening and had to stop by a McDonalds on my way there to get some lunch. I ate those McNuggets while I watched. I didn't do that to be transgressive or anything. I was hungry. Good thing the movie didn't go over what happens to the chickens, I guess.
Who's Good: Cannavale as the evil jerk, meat-processing plant supervisor who abuses and intimidates his female employees. And the look on Kinnear's face when he finds out he's eating cow poop is also really entertaining.