So Morgan Spurlock's documentary follow-up to SuperSize Me is finally out on limited release. I went to check it out as soon as I found out I was fortunate enough to have it showing at a theatre in my area. I loved it. When I got back home, I went on RottenTomatoes and realized, much to my surprised, the film has taken somewhat of a beating from the critics who, apparently, seem to think it was too fun to be a real documentary. Nonsense! Hence, my review of Where In The World Of Osama Bin Ladin.
Unlike the critics, I'm not of the opinion that a documentary has to be depressing, strictly educational, directed by Errol Morris, or has to change the way you think. I think Morgan Spurlock is a breath of fresh air in the documentary scene, which is crowded with far too many filmmakers talking about the same issues in the same manipulative emotionally-pandering style. There's no such thing as a non-biased documentarian but if you ask me, Morgan Spurlock is as close as it gets. Even more importantly, he's got guts enough to put himself directly into a given situation instead of standing at the side lines as an opinionated spectator ala Michael Moore. As was the case in SuperSize Me, so it is in WITWIOBL.
One of the things that made SuperSize Me great was its cinematic approach to documentaries. It was funny, entertaining, and thought-provoking, full of jokes, cartoons, and musical numbers to compliment the educational factor. Spurlock's new documentary starts off much in the same vein. Loads of cartoons with colorful characters to help present loads of facts and statistics including Osama Bin Ladin dancing to MC Hammer, the Statue of Liberty exotic dancing for Uncle Sam and Saddam Hussain, and Predator (yes, THE Predator). It also features Spurlock breaking the fourth wall to present his goal to the audience: find Osama Bin Ladin so that his unborn son can grow up in a better world. After having countless vaccinations, combat/kidnap survival training, and learning some new languages (he's a trooper, ain't it?), Spurlock is off in an adventure (presented in a video game-esque format mirroring the Carman SanDiego franchise from which the documentary takes its title), which takes him to, among several locations, Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
After he's got all the fun stuff out of the way, the film goes into full-blown documentary mode. Unlike Michael Moore, however, Spurlock doesn't only talk to the people who support his argument; he talks to everyone... and by everyone, I mean everyone. From angry jews who block the camera with their hats to one of the few Christian priests in Jordan to Bin Ladin supporters to relatives of suspected/confirmed terrorists to US Army personnel and all the average Joes out there in Middle East. The result is a wide-scope of viewpoints that allows the viewer to find common ground amongst opposing groups as well as the views that separate them. It's all very informative, in ways that most documentaries aren't.
My only problem with WITWIOBL is the title is perhaps a little misleading. Don't get me wrong. Spurlock does look for Osama Bin Ladin. He travels all over the place looking for him. In the end, though, I'd say the film is more about what forces drive the ideology behind al Quada and why there's such a rift between America and the Middle East, as well as Israel and the Middle East. The ending isn't what one might expect but, again, I thought it was refreshing for a documentary. Unlike most documentarians, who are trying to hard to give answers, Spurlock merely raises questions. Perhaps not as strong as Morris or Moore but it leaves the viewer with a lot more to think about.
Overall, WITWIOBL is a documentary that's fun, amusing, informative, and thought-provoking all at the same time which doesn't shove a message down your throat but doesn't leave you without something to think about either. The way a documentary should be IMO. Forget the critics. Check it out!