Movie with Abe: Freakonomics: The Movie (Capsule Review)

Freakonomics: The Movie
Directed by Heidi Ewing, Alex Gibney, Seth Gordon, Rachel Grady, Eugene Jarecki, &
Morgan Spurlock
Released October 1, 2010



It’s difficult to review a documentary made of up of vignettes, so I would like to present the trailer, embedded above, since it offers a perfect indication of the tone and style of the film, hinting just enough at its many subjects to intrigue viewers while still saving the good stuff for the full experience. Unlike other documentaries, it doesn’t center on only one topic, and instead covers a range of subjects as diverse as baby names, the housing market, testing incentives, and Sumo wrestling. Some are more compelling than others, and some don’t present entirely satisfactory or surprising conclusions. Yet as a whole, “Freakonomics: The Movie” is a massively entertaining experienced packed with mountains of knowledge and unexpected revelations and conclusions about everyday things that might not ordinarily pique enough interest to provoke further research. Names such as Alex Gibney (“Taxi to the Dark Side,” “Casino Jack and the United States of Money”) and Morgan Spurlock (“Super Size Me”) are on the roster of directors stepping behind the camera to showcase their investigations, and it’s an inspiring, enjoyable compilation of interesting factoids that should delight any interested viewers.

B+