Ken Vermette

An occasionally meandering documentary with about 40 minutes of seriously hard-hitting content, that doesn't ultimately deliver any level of "spectacle" to drive the point home. Matt Walsh primarily explores the title question of this movie though a series of interviews. Included is a good mix of viewpoints, on-the-street bits, an interview with an African tribe unfamiliar with transgender concepts, and a couple smaller segments. Topics range from transgender rights vs womens rights, the transitioning of minors, trans men in womens sports, and the medical community around transitioning. Generally Matt approaches interviews with a stone-faced demeanour, in a way that's oddly disarming despite increasingly pointed questions. Multiple interviewees threaten to leave, with one literally tearing their microphone off - but I can't say he at any point asks an unfair question that couldn't be answered. The interviews are, by far, the best part of the movie. Outside the interviews the movie slows down and loses momentum. The worst offenders are a womens march which added nothing of substance, and a self-promotional story-book moment where he reads a book he wrote. There's also some lightly 'scripted' segments, particularly the end-of-movie "I should talk to my wife" bit which didn't really fit. Nothing that derails the documentary, but it did cost it a star. Lastly, there was no 'pillar' story, nothing where I can say "the one where..." since nothing actually happens. "Morgan Spurlock eats nothing but McDonalds", "Morgan Spurlock opens a chicken restaurant", "Matt Walsh... Interviews people." It would have been a far superior movie if they found someone willing to document their transition process, if they followed a female athlete competing against a male, or even just some person as they get entangled in the law. Two of the stories are harrowing to say the least, but we as the audience are just hearing about them. With the Supersize Me movies, especially the second, you experience it with the host and see the workings of it all. Overall, the movie is very good, but not great. Very much worth a watch for nearly everyone, but not a movie you're likely going to put on for repeat viewings.