Movie Notes: Maxed Out
= 4 stars
Starring Chris Barrett, Robin Leach, Elizabeth Warren
Directed by James Scurlock
Synopsis
Increasingly, the “American Dream” is funded with borrowed money. This documentary investigates the credit industry, revealing a large business segment based entirely on keeping customers in a state of perpetual debt. The scope expands to politics and our government’s policy of borrowing today to bankrupt tomorrow.
The Good
- Mostly serious, and a nice change of pace from the more comical documentaries of late.
- The director stays completely out of the picture, unlike the more aggressive Michael Moore.
- Interviews are cut together to make powerful points: a bill collector brags about hounding deadbeats and his huge bonus, followed by the families of individuals who took their own lives after threats from collectors.
- The film expands to expose the federal government’s course toward interest payments that may shackle future generations.
The Bad
- Often dry and depressing. As a result, the folks who would most benefit from the knowledge imparted in this film will likely never see it, as it lacks the humorous punch of Super Size Me.
- For obvious reasons, no financial service representative appears in the movie to defend their practices. The film therefore lacks a dramatic climax, as the film’s “villains” are never confronted.
Conclusion
Maxed Out tries provides information that is sorely needed in today’s “if we can make the payments, we can afford it” society: an important part of managing credit is understanding the money lent by lenders isn’t earned. They want to maximize profit, and that comes from people owing a crapload, and paying the ensuing interest and fees.
The film wants us to put our cards in a drawer, pay off the balance every single month without fail, and rarely use them, ever again. But in regards to the federal government and the gross excess that lead to the present housing crash and the credit crunch? I have no idea. Maybe it’s time for a new American dream — one we can actually afford.
IMDB: Maxed Out
Wikipedia: Maxed Out
Rotten Tomatoes: Maxed Out 88%