Thank You for Smoking

Thank You for Smoking is a hilarious movie about a tobacco lobbyist's path to an understanding of his purpose in life and a realization of the importance his family.

It all begins with a man, Nick Naylor. His business is talking. He "pays the mortgage" using his mouth. His young son joins him on his trips and is eager to think of his father as a hero. Along the path to self-discovery, Naylor argues with senators and divulges secret information to a reporter with "nice tits." At one point, anti-smoking advocates kidnap Nick and slap nicotine patches all over his body, bringing him close to death. His son is worried. This event makes Naylor think twice about his occupation. Is it really worth losing his life and hurting his son?

There are many, many clever moments in the movie. It is highly satirical of lobbyists and government. It shows the stupidity and hypocrisy of most governmental decisions and pokes fun at the government's ability to accuse others of evil while being evil themselves. A senator from the cheese-producing state of Vermont is pushing for large warning labels on cigarette packs. But why have warning labels on cigarette packages and not cheese? Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, not cigarettes.

The movie is enjoyable to watch, but it didn't quite have the edge that could have accomplished. I give it 3 potatoes.