Pom Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Entertainment: +3

Content: +2

Documentary by Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me, Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?).

FILM SYNOPSIS: Boundary-pushing Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Morgan Spurlock explores the world of product placement, marketing and advertising in POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, a film that was fully financed through product placement from various brands, all of which are integrated transparently into the film.  Pom Wonderful makes the 100% pomegranate juice in the iconic round-layered shaped bottle.

With humor and insight, POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold unmasks the marketing process to bring audiences behind closed doors directly into the pitch meetings and marketing presentations which ultimately inform our everyday entertainment decisions. Sponsors were provided with brand category exclusivity. The brands that agreed to sponsor the film placed Spurlock front and center in their brand campaigns and advertisements, both on and off-line. Partners have the unique right to promote themselves in association with Spurlock and the film as “The Greatest.” The agreements also stipulate that Spurlock maintains creative control of the film’s content and final edit.

PREVIEW REVIEW: With his unique and witty perspective, Morgan Spurlock exposes the true nature of the entertainment world – it’s not about art – it’s all about commerce – the almighty buck. And what a lesson his “Doc-buster” gives us by showing how those in the mediums of media easily manipulate viewers. Summer’s coming and we will soon be bombarded by Ka-runch, ka-pow, Ka-zap, ka-boom actioneers, full of sound and fury, and klutzy comedies that signify nothing. So, here’s a chance to see a film that amuses while stimulating thought and conversation. But beware, by film’s end, you may also crave juice of the pomegranate.

Tired of curse words aired on television? There’s a solution. For details, go to www.tvguardian.com. (Now, that’s an example of product endorsement.)

Preview Reviewer: Phil Boatwright
Distributor: Sony Classics Pictures

Summary
The following categories contain objective listings of film content which contribute to the subjective numeric Content ratings posted to the left and on the Home page.

Crude Language: None

Obscene Language: Three obscenities, two of the f-word and one s-word; a couple of minor expletives.

Profanity: None

Violence: None

Sex: There is some brief sexuality as the film explores what is most often used to sell product – sex; there is some sexual humor, but it is brief.

Nudity: A quick, brief shot.

Sexual Dialogue/Gesture: None

Drugs: None

Other: One creative consultant designs an ad campaign around the painting of the Last Supper, with Mr. Spurlock and movie and cartoon characters pasted in over Jesus and the disciples; yes, that is in bad taste, bordering on blasphemy – the designer admitting it; but it is also revealing, showing how far people in the business and entertainment world will go to grab our attention; it tells us something about the soulless nature of those who promote questionable products.

Running Time: 88 minutes
Intended Audience: Older teens and up.

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