THE FOUNDER (Theatrical Release USA 2016)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 4.7|5.0 Starsìììì

The Founder maximizes the WOW factor to tell the story of Ray Kroc, the McDonald’s fast food chain founder. It’s the typical success story—loser sees opportunity, risks all to take opportunity, experiences failure and setbacks, suffers personal loss, follows through on a series of ideas, finds success, repeats the steps that led to that success, doggedly and ruthlessly follows that pattern with single mindedness of purpose until achieving desired goal. The McDonald’s story is told through the acting skill of Michael Keaton and the direction of Director John Lee Hancock. The story does not disappoint.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Salesperson Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton) sees opportunity for franchise in Dick McDonald (Nick Offerman) and brother Mac McDonald’s (John Carroll Lynch) fast food restaurant.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director John Lee Hancock for directing efforts. Thank you to Executive Producers Glen Basner, Holly Brown, Alison Cohen, David Glasser, David C. Greathouse, William D. Johnson, Christos  V. Konstantakopoulos, Karen Lunder, Bob Weinstein, and Harvey Weinstein for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Joan Smith (Linda Cardellini), Harry J. Sonneborn (B. J. Novak), Ethel Kroc (Laura Dern), Fred Turner (Justin Randell Brooke), June Martino (Kate Kneeland), Rollie Smith (Patrick Wilson), Jim Zien (Griff Furst), Jerry Cullen (Wilbur Fitzgerald), Jack Horford (David  de Vries), Leonard Rosenblatt (Andrew Benator), Myra Rosenblatt (Cara Mantella), Harvey Peltz (Mike Pniewski), Mrs. Horford (Catherine Dyer), Mrs. Cullen (Susan Williams), Art Wolodarsky (Franco Castan), Kroc Corporate Lawyer (Kenny Alfonso), Gorgeous Blonde (Devon Ogden), Owner Joe’s Drive-In (Gerald Duckworth), and Owner of Ed’s Drive-In (Randall Taylor).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Yes. It’s a not-to-be-missed success story with Michael Keaton at his best.

Video Critique available Here:

Ben Meyers