By Max Rosenberg
Theme Editor
From a small family owned business to a multi-billion dollar corporation, John Lee Hancock’s newest film “The Founder,” captures the rise of the McDonald’s fast food enterprise, making viewers say, “I’m lovin’ it.”
“The Founder,” starring Michael Keaton, captivates audiences with superb acting and an engaging plotline, though it lacks some details regarding the original McDonald’s diner. The film successfully exposes viewers to the raw reality of large American corporations, leading to a surprisingly entertaining movie.
“The Founder” is directed by John Lee Hancock who is known for his past films including “The Blind Side” and “Saving Mr. Banks” and written by Robert Siegel. The movie is a biographical drama, that is inspired by true events leading up to the founding of the Mc Donald’s coorperation.
The main characer, Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton) sells milkshake machines as a career when he notices a surprisingly large shipment for a Californian diner, McDonald’s. The two McDonald brothers, Mac (John Carroll Lynch) and Dick (Nick Offerman) give Kroc a tour and he becomes fascinated with the fast service and high quality, eventually taking over coorperation.
Throughout the film, Keaton does an impressive job of capturing his character’s dynamic personality as a man who is both power-hungry and extremely innovative. Rather than make the audience hate the character, Keaton manages to make viewers root for Kroc while still understanding that his actions are inexcusably manipulative.
Despite the film containing a heavy spotlight on business negotiations, Hancock is able to maintain a steady pace throughout the film’s duration. His quickly shifting scenes show the speed at which Kroc built his business empire, thus keeping the audience entertained for the entirety of the film.
Another impressive trait of the movie is its unpredictable plot. The film takes unexpected turns that keep the audience intrigued, adding excitement into the otherwise unintersting story. The main characters are constantly forced to make important decision that could lead to the success or failure of the biggest opportunity of their lives, creating many gripping scenes.
One negative aspect of “The Founder” is the lack of context within the film. There is very little focus on how the first McDonald’s diner was founded as the only mention of the diner’s background is quick conversation between the McDonald brothers, leaving the audience feeling confused about the brand’s actual origin.
“The Founder” is a riveting film that forces the audience to make serious character judgements, while also engaging viewers with an enticing plot and talented cast. Although it lacks some background details, the overall quality of the film is not diminished.
“The Founder” is rated PG-13 and is playing in theaters nationwide.
Much of the tension in “The Founder” is a direct result of the backstabbing that Kroc is forced to do in order to fulfill the potential of the business. His betrayal of the McDonald brothers interestingly displays the complexity of Kroc’s character. In the end, his drive for power outweighs his morality, which gives a realistic portrayal of the hardships of building such a vast business like McDonald’s.
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