Where to Invade Next (Rhoades)

Front Row at the Movies

Michael Moore’s “Where To Invade Next” Invades Tropic Cinema

Reviewed by Shirrel Rhoades

We’ve come to expect interesting, if one-sided, documentaries from that unkempt, roly-poly filmmaker Michael Moore. And ever since his first doc -- an exposé of troubles in Flint, Michigan, called  “Roger & Me” -- we look forward to seeing him act as his films’ on-camera tour guide.

We’ve witnessed him ambush a declining Charlton Heston over guns in “Bowling for Columbine,” decry George Bush’s unjust wars in “Fahrenheit 9/11,” go looking for healthcare in Cuba with “Sicko,” and denounce our economic system in “Capitalism: A Love Story.”

His latest is no less in your face.

“Where To Invade Next” is currently invading the Tropic Cinema.

Michael Moore is sure to polarize his audiences into the red and blue seating sections. You either see him as a hateful traitor to America, or as a patriotic guy trying to save us from ourselves.

In this one, Moore travels around the world to plant the American flag in countries that have adopted our good ideas and made them work even better than we have.

We follow him as he “invades” Finland, France, Germany, Portugal, Norway, Iceland, Italy, Tunisia, and even Slovenia.

This parody of a travelogue invites us to marvels at Moore’s discoveries: supportive unions, good schools, no college tuition, and bankers sent to prison for malfeasance. He also attempts to educate us on the benefit of decriminalizing drugs, prison reform, and the positive role women can play in society.

Moore’s message is that we Americans could remake our country in these images if we have the courage and will.

Needless to say, Michael Moore is supporting Bernie Sanders.

srhoades@aol.com