Release Date: 4/23/11 (Limited)
POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, directed by Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me), is a “docu-buster” which takes a look at branding, marketing and product placement and just so happens to be completely financed through branding, marketing and product placement. Spurlock is a genius at coming up with entertaining ideas for documentaries and he is such a likable character that you can’t help but be entertained. This might be the funniest documentary I’ve ever seen as Spurlock further entrenches himself at the top of the list of successful documentarians.
The documentary follows Morgan Spurlock on his quest to have his film about the entertainment industries love for product placement completely financed through companies who will be marketing themselves throughout the film. He meets with several companies pitching his idea and interviews the likes of Ralph Nader, Quentin Tarantino and the band Ok Go, as he touches all aspects of marketing in film, television and music. But the question is, is Spurlock selling out or buying in?
Unlike several of the great documentaries of the past several years, this documentary isn’t going to change your life. Food Inc., Waiting for Superman, and even The Cove were all made for a reason, to make a change. Most documentaries are made to inform and The Greatest Movie Ever Sold accomplishes that in some ways. It focuses more on entertaining the viewer, like a blockbuster movie would, hence the term “docu-buster”. Spurlock is hilarious in this film especially when dealing with the strange company ‘Mane n’ Tail’ which is a shampoo made for people and horses. Watching him try to keep a straight face on the phone with them is hysterical.
This documentary is filled with some really funny moments. Every time he randomly throws in a product placement shot or a 30 second commercial within the movie I was dying laughing. It will also make you sick as some top television programs and huge box office smashes pretty much whore themselves out with deal after deal to try and make more money. I loved the part when interviewing director Peter Berg and he mentioned some filmmakers and musicians like Radiohead or Paul Thomas Anderson who don’t give a shit about any branding or marketing all they care about is art and it made me really angry when hacks like Brett Ratner said “we’re all selling out”. The documentary’s best moments though were in the interviews with Ralph Nader. He steals the show and shows off a really laid back and funny side.
But the question that keeps coming up in the end is, is Spurlock selling out, or buying in? I was having a hard time deciding until the very end. You’ll have to see it to find out. This might not be the greatest movie ever made, but it’s almost guaranteed to be the most entertaining documentary of the year.
STAMP IT!!!
IMDB: 5.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 73%
Moviewiseguys: 8.0/10
