I love a clever title! This 2013 movie is about GMOs (genetically modified organisms) narrated and directed by Jeremy Seifert with facts about how they are used, why they are used, and the ramifications of eating foods grown with GMOs.
He has three of the cutest kids in the universe and he opens the film explaining his unconditional love and desire to keep his children healthy and safe. The movie proceeds with street interviews as evidence no one in society knows what a GMO is and how most of the population eats what they want when they want without question trusting our food is safe.
He presents some good facts like which American crops are grown with GMOs. One fact that disturbed me but also gave me great hope was how so many countries have actually banned GMOs. It's the USA chemical corporations, like the ever evil Monsanto, that are the ones poisoning us with GMOs and trying to push them into other countries. And the US government does nothing but support them. Anyone who is chemically sensitive knows this, but it was good to be reminded. Can I move to Europe now???
He interviews conventional farmers and their brainwashed ideology on the desperate situation of feeding the world's population. He interviews organic food activists and finally scientists and their research studies on the ramifications of GMOs. Other than the rats with the giant cancerous tumors, he barely mentions associated health issues, but he does say most of the research is done by the chemical companies who purport all is safe so no one really knows anything. (Allergies, asthma, digestive disorders, and even autism are linked to GMOs.) I'm surprised he didn't discuss that health condition where it is thought the GMO spores that infect non-GMO crops are also embedding themselves into human skin causing all kinds of problems...that would make a really good horror movie plot!
My problem with the movie is it has absolutely no passion. I never got the feeling he believed what he was saying nor if there is a crisis. His facts are laden with cartoons that negate the seriousness of the situation. His interviews are bland and questions uninteresting. He never challenges anyone. He talks about the GMOs in the foods we eat and how bad they are for us, but he continues throughout the movie feeding his children junk food as he interviews them on how good it tastes. He teases them about not going to McDonalds and feeds them ice cream. Or he lectures them as they eat on the dangers of what they are eating and as little kids they respond with, "It's so good". Is it just me or is it really bad parenting to be contradictory and confusing? I did like the goggles he creates for his kids to wear to identify GMOs, but again, it's just a joke. At times I enjoyed the humor especially seeing these little babies holding protest signs that said "GMOs" but the humor was usually misplaced, lacked meaning, and only for entertainment. They eat meal after meal of processed, conventional junk as he and his wife talk about how hard it would be to give up these foods. It's really difficult to take him seriously if he can't be bothered to stop his children, who he claims to love with all his heart, from eating the GMO-poisoned food. This lack of passion doesn't live up to the OMG in the title.
I think what might have had more of an impact is if he showed his family actually giving up GMO foods, addressing how difficult this step is in our fast-food culture, adjustments one must make, foods that are safe and edible, and hopefully, by the end of the movie can say if he can do it, anyone can. Instead his message is: GMO's are bad...no one knows this, but even if people know it it doesn't matter and no one really needs to care.
I find this really irresponsible.
It gets one star for cute kids. Maybe another star for excellent title.
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