Super Size Me
CRITIC'S CHOICE
After you see this deliciously pointed film, there's one place you probably won't head for a postmovie meal: McDonald's. How could you after watching Morgan Spurlock, the genial director, writer and star of Super Size Me, pig out on three meals a day at Mickey D's across the country for 30 days straight? Before our eyes, the 33-year-old Spurlock, a healthy fellow prior to embarking on his unique meal plan, packs on 25 lbs.; his cholesterol levels rocket skyward; his doctor compares his liver function to that of an alcoholic; and his girlfriend (a vegan chef, ironically) confides that his sexual vigor isn't what it used to be.
Spurlock doesn't conduct his experiment in a vacuum. Either while chowing down or between meals, he interviews medical and nutrition experts, points out how much fast-food companies spend on advertising and how much of it is aimed at kids, and explains how the sugar and fats in fast food make the stuff addictive. His movie is an amusing, informative, clever and worthy attack on Big Mac. (Not rated)
Mark Ruffalo
Ruffalo, 36, made his mark as the wayward brother in 2000's You Can Count on Me. Now dad to Keen, 2, with actress wife Sunrise Coigney, 31, the Wisconsin native stars with Jennifer Garner in 13 Going on 30.
ON TAKING A YEAR OFF TO BATTLE A BRAIN TUMOR You become very acutely aware that one day you're going to die. During that year off, there was a time when I thought I may not be able to act anymore. They took the tumor out [in 2001], and it was benign. There's very little chance of it coming back. I have to take MRIs every now and then. It was such an intense time in my life.
ON WORKING WITH GARNER
I met her at a reading for the script and expected a girl in a leather bustier with chopsticks sticking out of her hair. But Jennifer walked in and had a ponytail, no makeup and sweats. She'd sing this song whenever she saw me: "Marcus Ruffalo...How does your hair grow?" She's just a goof, you know.
ON BEING 13
I was a really insecure, chubby kid with buck teeth. I was into the punk scene. More of a skate punk. I had really short hair and listened to the Dead Kennedys, the Circle Jerks and the Clash—the only band that matters.
ON GETTING GROUNDED
I got drunk one night at 14. I was a wreck and sick for four days. I never drank before and drank a whole bottle of peppermint schnapps. I ran myself over with a bike. I went over the handlebars, and the bike rolled over me. My mom said, "You're grounded."
ON BEING A DAD
We'll dig holes in the backyard looking for worms. Keen saw me on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. He was like, "Papa!" and was trying to get inside the television.
