As someone who has not struggled with my weight since after my freshman year in college, I was prepared to be unsympathetic with Joe Cross’ documentary, “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead” that played for two days only at the Playhouse 7 in Pasadena. I thought it was going to be a long-winded whine, but instead, the movie was surprisingly entertaining and inspiring. Cross is like the late Jack LaLanne (26 September 1914 to 23 January 2011) re-born with an Aussie accent (no white German shepherd dogs though)

The caveat here is that I also find “Biggest Loser” inspiring. Although my current weight is about 2 lbs. over my personal ideal and my BMI is on the low side of average after spending decades on the high side of underweight, Cross’s message makes me want to eat and really, drink better.  Cross’ method of jump-starting his weight loss program involves juice—pulverizing vegetables and some fruit (and, yes, for those who are nitpicky, fruits that we think are veggies like cucumbers and tomatoes). Forsaking chewable food, he promotes a “juice fast” for the initial few days and then as a means of keeping healthy after returning to the world of chewing.

Cross isn’t crazy. He didn’t go to college, but he’s a wealthy man who made his money on the stock exchange floor in Australia and used that money to support a hard-living lifestyle—wine, women and food. Lots of food. His obesity led to an autoimmune disease. He was 100 lbs. overweight with a gut bigger than a beach ball when he decided to come to America, do a juice fast and speak with 500 Americans about weight, food and health.

Cross’ new diet was under a doctor’s supervision (Dr. Fuhrman and his Eat to Live diet) and on his journey, he spent time in New York, drove across country and met a few people, most notably another man who was facing similar problems.

From my personal observations, people who are a healthy weight have certain personality traits and these aren’t inherent. They also have certain habits; generally exercise is one.  Even if the exercise is something as basic as walking. Ask Roger Ebert who is now a dedicated walker. If I didn’t have my trusty pet-ometers (two collies), I wouldn’t be power walking every day.

When I worked in Old Pas, two of my co-workers asked me for advice on losing weight. They didn’t like the answer and took time each day to mock me and whine about their weight problems. One eventually discovered what I said was correct, but that was after over a year of smirks and rolling eyes.

Pasadena, with its beautiful winter weather that once attracted the wealthy from the East Coast, makes it easy to get out and exercise, the problem is motivation.  If you’re already healthy, the documentary might inspire you to re-think you diet and improve it as I did with myself and my husband. If you’re overweight or know someone who is, this might be a wake up call. Not everyone who needs to hear the alarm will listen to it; some will just hit snooze. You snooze; you lose.

In this case, you lose your chance for a good healthy life.

If you missed the Pasadena screenings for this documentary, “Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead,” you can still buy the DVD. It’s playing in this guerrilla-style of one to two-days at a city and in many cases, Joe Cross appears to help revolutionize the masses.

Upcoming screenings:

April 16
Guild Cinema*
Albuquerque, NM
505-255-1848
*In person appearance by Joe Cross

Avon Theatre Film Center
Stamford, CT
203-967-3660

April 21
Tivoli Cinemas
Kansas City, MO
919-383-7756

April 25
Peter White Public Library
Northern Vegans/UP Veg Resource
Marquette, MI
906-236-1279

April 27
Patriot Cinemas*
Portland, ME
207-772-9751

May 1
Cinema Paradiso*
Fort Lauderdale, FL
954-525-3456
*In person appearance by Joe Cross all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday

May 9
Healthy U
Sacramento, CA
916-835-8132

June 9
Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
Houston, TX
281-920-9211