By Ben McEachenMonday 28 Nov 2016The Big PictureMoviesReading Time: 2 minutes
The Founder is the actual story of the man who took McDonald’s from being a small-time start-up to a global franchise that changed the meaning of ‘fast food’. In the 1950s, Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton) is a travelling salesman who keeps struggling to make it big. He meets the McDonald brothers (Nick Offerman, David Carroll Lynch) and sees the potential in their new style of burger joint. But Kroc’s ambitions for McDonald’s are at odds with how the brothers like to operate, and the vicious, scheming side of doing business comes to the fore.
RATED: The Founder is rated M for coarse language.
AUDIENCE: Fans of “do you want fries with that” or super-sizing. Anyone who wants an insight into how a large company began will be queuing up for this big business study. Also, if you like Michael Keaton, you’ll love The Founder.
WHAT’S GOOD: Getting to see the “warts and all” back story behind a powerhouse like McDonald’s is a tasty serve of modern history. Following his recent Oscar win for Birdman, Keaton continues his career resurgence with a cocky yet credible portrayal of a bloke consumed by achieving success. The supporting cast is excellent, helping The Founder to be a good treatment of what it can take to get ahead, as well as a cautionary tale about the personal costs of greed and ambition.
WHAT’S NOT: The Founder covers a lot of ground; we get a look at many decades in the relationship between Kroc and McDonald’s. However, because so much is squeezed into one movie; there can be issues with pacing and the film’s structure. Viewers may struggle to connect all the dots or be gripped by the vast timeline, as they yearn for more information about some points – and far less about others.
SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING: Ray Kroc does not lack Perseverance. His ruthless desire to make McDonald’s as big as he dreams it can go, quickly consumes him and all parts of his life. There’s something hugely admirable about Kroc’s unwillingness to quit when things get tough or don’t work out. He’s a fighter, he knows what he wants and will do what he can to make it happen. But his ability to persevere seems only fueled by selfishness and greed. Is that the best use for perseverance? And is that the same kind of motivation for perseverance that God frequently calls people to live out (Luke 18:1-, Galatians 6:9)? In your life, what might the difference be between Kroc’s perseverance – and how we can persevere in our service, devotion and love of God?
RELEASE DATE: Now Showing