March 2005
Ok, so cookbook review after cookbook review can start to drive you crazy. With this in mind (or what's left of it) I decided to look into another form of culinary entertainment - DVDs.

First up, the romantic comedy - Spanglish
The theme of the movie goes a little something like this. John Clasky (Adam Sandler) is a devoted dad whose skills as a chef have afforded his family (Téa Leoni, Cloris Leachman) a very upscale life, including summer home in Malibu and breathtaking new housekeeper Flor (Paz Vega), who has recently emigrated to L.A. from Mexico and is trying to find a better life for her remarkable daughter, Cristina (Shelbie Bruce) who is rapidly embracing the American way of life. When Flor and Cristina move in with the Claskys for the summer, Flor has to fight for her daughter's soul as she discovers that life in a new country is perilous. especially when you're being embraced by an affluent eccentric American family.

The movie does not feature Sandler in his typical super goofy role. In Spanglish we see the more romantic rather than comedic side of him. He executes his culinary role well and it is clear that the people involved in making this film spent some time in a real kitchen to portray a professional team at work, in actual fact both the director and Sandler spent time at the French Laundry in Napa watching Keller and his crew in action. This gives the film added refreshment as kitchen scenes in movies can be very irritating as they are always so detached from the real thing.

Spanglish serves up over two hours of good entertainment and is well worth a trip to the video store. Also be sure to check out the extra features where you can catch Thomas Keller demoing his idea of the world's best sandwich.

Super Size Me
I intentionally did not go to the movies to see this film, for sure it was merely a DVD offering? I did not feel that a documentary could be entertaining, not in the same way as a comedy or horror movie. But that turns out not to be the case - yes people, I was wrong. Super Size Me is entertaining, comedic and horrific all at the same time, I missed out at the movie theater but I am sure glad that I picked it up on DVD.

This is the story (well actually the facts). Super Size Me set out to expose why so many Americans are fat? In a tongue in-cheek - burger in hand - look at the legal, financial and physical costs of America's hunger for fast food.


Photos By: Julie Soefer & Tracy Boulian
Ominously, 37% of American children and adolescents are carrying too much fat and 2 out of every three adults are overweight or obese. Is it our fault for lacking self-control, or are the fast-food corporations to blame?

Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock hit the road and interviewed experts in 20 U.S. cities, including Houston, the "Fattest City" in America. From Surgeon Generals to gym teachers, cooks to kids, lawmakers to legislators, these authorities shared their research, opinions and "gut feelings" on our ever-expanding girth.

During the journey, Spurlock also put his own body on the line, living on nothing but McDonald's for an entire month with three simple rules:

1) No options: he could only eat what was available over the counter (water included!)
2) No supersizing unless offered
3) No excuses: he had to eat every item on the menu at least once

It all adds up to a fat food bill, harrowing visits to the doctor, and compelling viewing for anyone who's ever wondered if man could live on fast food alone.

The film explores the horror of school lunch programs, declining health and physical education classes, food addictions and the extreme measures people take to lose weight and regain their health.

Review by: Jeremy Emmerson