THE REVENGE OF THE PALE, FAT, WHITE KIDS (My Review of “Bigger, Stronger, Faster: The Side Effects of Being American”)

Growing up we had all seen them. Hulk Hogan with his scoop slam of Andre the Giant to win the belt in Wrestlemania III or when Hogan gave the Iron Sheik the big leg drop to win the title for the first time and proclaim that America rules and Iran drools. We all saw Ahnold Schwarzenegger blow everyone away in the Mr. Universe competitions and then later in his movies as a barbarian and a robot. We saw Sly Stallone beat the Russians as Rocky (and a very angry Mr. T) and blow away the Vietnamese as Rambo. Growing up that was who we wanted to be.

As Christopher Bell, the director and narrator of the documentary “Bigger, Stronger, Faster: The Side Effects of Being American” points out though, most of us ended up gravitating towards being pale, fat, white kids though no matter what we tried. No matter what you did or how hard you worked, you were always a step behind your heroes. Then a magical, mysterious drug called steroids came onto the scene and suddenly Chris and his brothers had found a way to become like their heroes.

This movie is a great look between a man and his family’s struggles with trying to live up to their own American dream and image and how he takes an in-depth look at how little we really know about steroids, much like marijuana, and just because we do not know a lot about it, does not prevent us from vilifying it. He asks the question “When does it become cheating? When out athletes take it? Even though you can buy them cheap over the internet and most meat that is produced in this country has them coursing through it?” Every person in America that has had a cheeseburger has had steroids. Most of our medications are steroid derivatives. In fact, in that aspect, I’ve been on steroids for a long time now. The medication I use for my psoriasis is technically a steroid. This is the point that Christopher Bell brings up. That maybe with a little more education and a lot more research, steroids are something that should not necessarily be embraced, but maybe do not have to be vilified as much as they are. He also debunks many of the myths of steroids and that most of the people who see the negative effects are people who ABUSE steroids. He calls for doctor supervision, much like I have with my psoriasis medication, that would prevent most of the negative effects and he also proves that most of myths of steroids are just that, myths.

It was an educational, entertaining look at one of our society’s biggest taboos. Although you won’t see me shooting up a steroid anytime soon, I took away a lot from this movie and I think you will too. Personally, I learned to be a lot happier with myself and who I am and that not everything we see or hear is something we should believe in to be a real American. The movie was solid, timing out at 1 hour and 45 minutes. It did a drag at a few points, but its message and overall display was solid and I walked out of the theatre with a good feeling. If you can find a theatre that it is playing in, go take a look. 3.5 out of 5 stars.

-Ray Carsillo

P.S.: I had an opportunity two days before the movie came out to sit down with Christopher Bell and do a quick interview. Have a listen if you are still on the fence about seeing this movie.