Review: I saw the box for this film and had to hold myself back from laughing. I won't lie, it looks almost like a joke. Yet, despite the cover, Motz' fast food endeavor is very enjoyable. I must warn you though, this is not an investigation or satire, but rather a lighthearted (possibly commercially funded?) look at the food we all love... well not including vegetarians. Looking at eight different locally owned hamburger places from all over the country, you will definitely find yourself craving a burger by the end of it. But, if you are a vegetarian or semi-health conscious you might wanna avoid this documentary like salmonella. There are more shots of grease and grilled burgers than I could hope to keep track of. Ironically though, the beauty of the film is not in the meat, but the people. Most of the interviews are with people who have either worked, owned or been around hamburgers their entire life. Many of their practices are not controlled by profit but tradition. Trust me, the Billy Goat in Chicago (easily the most famous of the burger joints) looks like a sellout compared to the other seven different places. And it's for this reason the 54 minute documentary is worth watching. Without expressly talking about it, Motz dishes out a solid set of Americana and heritage in his food documentary. Sure he only pokes fun at the health problems and may subtly be pushing us to only eat more greasy meat patties, but as long as the stories and characters remain in the story, I could care less about the food investigation that lies on the surface. If you're a burger lover or a fan of stories and heritage, this is a great film to watch. It's funny, touching and delicious. And if it inspires you enough, you may be trying to plan a road trip to hit every good burger stand in the country. If you feel so inclined, make sure you chat with the people in this film who bucked profits for family tradition. Review by Matthew Abshire Informative: 4- Motz adds a little bit of tradition, history and love to the burger ideal. Entertainment: 4- At under an hour, this will hold your interest just long enough to fend off any burger cravings. Technical: 3- Very simple and straightforward, nothing fancy, but that's not a bad thing. Overall: 3.5- A short lighthearted look at local hamburger joints without all the fat of health concerns.
Hamburger America
Format: DVD Year: 2004 Running Time: 54 Min Distributor: Motzfilms Producer: George Motz and Casey Benjamin Director: George Motz Date Reviewed: 5-15-2007 Story: Hamburger America is the story of eight deliciously unique hamburger locations across the country and the people behind the burgers. Each restaurant featured in the film has been around for more than 40 years, uses only fresh meat, and in many cases can boast the fact that ownership has stayed within the same family (DVD cover).