Bigger Stronger Faster

Nominally about the use of steroids, this documentary ends up addressing far larger ideas.

The personal focus here comes from the filmmaker's attention to his own story and that of his two brothers. All three had dreams of becoming the next Stallone or Hulk Hogan. His brothers went the steroid route; filmmaker Chris Bell did not.

Bell's boldest move in the film is to present the argument for steroids and allow steroid supporters to address the commonly-held, but largely unsupported, views of steroid's dangers. In doing so, he highlights a larger and deeper conflict, because even as Bell presents these arguments, the person who remains unconvinced is Bell himself.

And so the film moves on to the question of why steroids "just seem really wrong." What is it in our culture that embraces some enhancements and demonizes others? What does it say about us that so many of our heroes "cheated" to achieve the success for which we admire them?

Bell is particularly hard on Arnold Schwarznegger and his message of "work hard, eat your vegetables, say your prayers, and in America, you can become anything," noting repeatedly that Arnold's entire career is based on success that he achieved through using steroids.

Ultimately Bell portrays steroid use not as a problem, but as a symptom of something sad and difficult in the American character, the drive to do whatever it takes to get the dream, even if that means potential self-destruction. And Bell's brothers underline that, because they are ultimately sad figures who take all those steps, and still end up ordinary men far short of any sort of greatness or success. Saddest of all is his older brother, who appears to be throwing away the quieter success of a solid father, husband and provider in vain pursuit of a glory that he believes is his destiny, but which he will clearly never achieve.

Ultimately this far-ranging documentary (as the film proceeds, Bell's "gets" for interviews are increasingly impressive and varied) is funny, sad, thought-provoking, and as much about the American dream and celebrity as it is about steroids. Highly recommended.