0
0
Six years or so ago, it seemed world peace was just one manhunt away: hunt down that rascally Osama Bin Laden, and the skies would be friendly once again. Nearly five years after 9/11, however, filmmaker Morgan Spurlock found himself with a baby on the way—and the overwhelming fear that the world just wasn’t a safe place for a child. So, determined to be the Best Dad Ever, Spurlock decided to hunt down Osama Bin Laden and save the world once and for all.
Armed with a camera crew, some tactical training, and a solid belief in the action-movie credo that one very determined man can accomplish more than any army, Spurlock left his pregnant wife behind and headed to the Middle East. He traveled from Egypt to Israel to Saudi Arabia, talking to the people on the streets and asking them where he might find the Al-Qaeda leader. As he did so, he discovered a lot about the people—about their beliefs, their hopes, and their thoughts on terrorism.
Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? is great docu-tainment. You may not think that a movie about hunting down a ruthless terrorist would be laugh-out-loud funny, but it is. Especially in the beginning, in fact, it’s wildly entertaining. And though the whole dad-to-be premise is a bit hokey, it works nonetheless—and it helps Spurlock look like a concerned parent on a mission (instead of just another pushy filmmaker).
Spurlock’s style is similar to Michael Moore’s: the general plot is pre-conceived, and the humor is pre-planned. But, to put it quite simply, Spurlock is a much better actor. While Moore’s leading questions and pre-determined wisecracks feel forced and sarcastic—and often just plain mean—Spurlock does a great job of making it feel real. And in the moments when he’s not working from the script, he actually seems like a nice guy. He’s not overly political, nor does he try to be controversial. He’s just some guy calling it as he sees it. And he’s a heck of a lot funnier than Moore, too. Any guy who would put a break-dancing Osama Bin Laden in his documentary (or depict terrorist leaders on their very own baseball cards) is okay in my book.
Unfortunately, the humor isn’t scattered evenly throughout the film. It’s hilarious in the beginning, but it gets more and more serious as it continues. While that’s somewhat understandable—since it is, after all, covering a pretty serious topic—a few more break-dancing Bin Ladens couldn’t have hurt. Instead, you’ll just have to get by with the goofy soundtrack.
Though the film’s conclusion is a bit anti-climactic, Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden? is more than just a silly movie. It’s an eye-opening film that shows a very different Middle East from the one you see on TV. Sure, it’ll make you laugh, but it’ll make you think, too. And, if you ask me, that’s a great combination.
DVD Review:
When I first saw Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?, my greatest (and maybe even only) complaint was that it wasn’t consistently funny. The fun animated parts from the beginning didn’t continue through to the end. And now I know why: it’s because they were cut.
Fortunately, a bunch of the things that were cut from the theater version are back on the DVD. Here, you’ll find the alternate ending—including an animated Western showdown between Spurlock and Bin Laden—along with some other animated fun. The DVD also features four additional interviews and a staged meeting with a CIA agent in the Watergate Hotel parking garage (a gag that was clearly cut for a reason).
I definitely recommend checking out Spurlock’s informative and entertaining documentary—especially now that the DVD offers even more information and entertainment.
