By Robert Yaniz Jr.

Funny, fast-paced and enlightening, this sequel explores the moral complexity of fast-food chicken.

THE HYPE

Way back in 2004, documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock sent shock waves through the fast-food industry with the release of Super Size Me. His film, in fact, contributed to the shift towards “healthier” options at some of the most popular chains. Now, more than a decade after exposing the devastating effects of eating McDonald’s for 30 days, Spurlock returns to investigate how much these restaurants have really changed. Although Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken! originally premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival, the film feels even more relevant in what has become the year of the chicken sandwich wars.

THE STORY

Rather than indulging in a month-long fast-food binge, this time Spurlock literally invests himself in the fray by opening up his own fast-food restaurant: the titular Holy Chicken (yes, it’s legit). Along the way, he uncovers many of the dirty behind-the-scenes practices that rule the industry, including the lack of strict regulations regarding how the chickens are treated, the “health halos” and misleading buzzwords (“crispy,” not “fried”!) designed to market junk food to health-conscious consumers and the role that “Big Chicken” plays in monopolizing the marketplace and exploiting farmers.

THE CAST

On a pure entertainment level, Spurlock is still a ton of fun to watch. He presents himself as a well-intentioned and largely reluctant party to the shocking reality of chicken farming, diversionary marketing and lack of transparency he encounters. As he trudges through the system, Spurlock serves as the audience surrogate once again and enlists the help of marketing gurus, industry representatives and nutrition experts alike to contextualize his discoveries. Even so, Spurlock’s own participation in these shady business practices somewhat undermines his good intentions this time around, making for a more dubious watch than the first film.

THE PRODUCTION

Much like the first film, Spurlock turns to a variety of tactics to present the grotesque details and disturbing revelations he encounters in a way that is both entertaining and digestible (pun intended). Tim Garland, Jeff Megan and David Tobin’s bouncy score and Pierre Takal’s tight editing help the 93-minute runtime fly by. Moreover, quirky animated sequences and man-on-the-street segments mix up the visual style and explore the complicated relationship between consumers and fast food, respectively.

THE VERDICT

“The chicken sandwich is slowly becoming the new burger,” someone says at one point during Super Size Me 2. While that may be true, this second fast-food exposé lacks the high-concept of its predecessor. It does, however, similarly bring to light the hidden world that exists behind our food. Viewed cynically, some may label Super Size Me 2 as simply a feature-length commercial for Spurlock’s own cheeky — but clearly for-profit — business venture. Nevertheless, it accomplishes its objective, serving as a commentary on the disparity between perception and reality in the world of fast food. As such, Spurlock challenges viewers to once again question what they are putting into their bodies. By the time the credits roll, the only question left is what the inevitable Super Size Me 3 will tackle.

Super Size Me 2: Holy Chicken! stars Morgan Spurlock and is directed by Morgan Spurlock.