A couple blogs ago, I was bemoaning the fact that Hollywood had nothing to offer me this summer.  Nothing besides the usual, computer generated, kid-level humor... or the latest in a long line of sequels that are leaving me feeling less than enthused to say the least.

Then, I saw "Sicko"....

I know... I know what you're thinking.  "I can't believe Mike McKay would go see that left-leaning, blow-hard"... or "Michael Moore is anti-American"... etc.  blah... blah... blah.

Roger and Me.... Farenheit 9-11... Bowling for Columbine... I've seen them all... and I will be the first one to tell you Michale Moore's style of fim-making is in your face.  In some cases, completely over-the-top.  But, in my opinion... there's no denying the issues Moore is trying to get us all to examine.  He's trying to get us out of our comfort zone... out of our complacency for two hours. 

Sicko would be a good introduction to Michael Moore.  His usual, over-the-top manner has been reigned in... (there was only one point in the movie where I caught myself rolling my eyes).  His humor is still intact.  So is his ability to hit you over the head with issues we all hear about in bits and pieces through the media... but seldom take the time to evaluate in-depth.

You may like Moore... you may hate him.  You may consider him to be the anti-christ.  But there is no denying what Moore brings to the table in "Sicko".  This country's health care system is in critical condition... and after seeing Moore's prognosis... my thought weren't about by own health care situation, but my kids'.  What's the situation going to be like when they reach adulthood?  When they have their own families?

Ed Murrow once said that the job of the media back in his day was to hold a mirror to our society and let the mirror show our situation, warts and all.  I think the same could be said for Michael Moore.... warts and all.

So, take it from Mike McKay.  Forget the rat in the kitchen and the cars that change into alien robots... forget living free and dying hard... forget Clooney and the boys.  Do yourself a favor and check out "Sicko".  I wouldn't call it the "feel good movie of the summer"... it's not meant to be.  It's meant to make you sit up straight... take a deep breath and say "ah"... and then maybe run for the border.

Until next time...

MM