'Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden?'

Sometimes things are said more effectively with humor.

Director and writer Morgan Spurlock, whose last film was the hit documentary "Super Size Me," tackles a subject many have been wondering about for several years now: Where in the world is Osama Bin Laden?"

Spurlock has been wondering too. Sometimes it seems as if bin Laden, the mastermind behind the Sept. 11 attacks, is all but forgotten in the mists of the War on Terror and war in Iraq, although some of us still wonder where he is.

It is, of course, no joking matter. Yet filmmakers, dating back to Charlie Chaplin, long ago discovered you can say things with humor that cannot be said as well or as forcefully with a serious approach, and make a better point.

Co-opting the name of the detective-style geography hunt, "Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden" takes us on a globe-trotting quest for answers. Spurlock was spurred by impending fatherhood to make the world a safer place and that meant finding the world's number one terrorist.

Inspired by countless action movies and video games, in which the filmmaker learned that one lone determined man can do what the U.S. military cannot, Spurlock sets out to find the villain behind al Qaeda and Sept. 11, Osama "been Hiding." What better way to do that than to create a video game to hunt down the terrorist?

After reviewing theories such as bin Laden is dead, hiding or in a hospital on dialysis, Spurlock sets up his search for Osama like a video game crossed with a globe-trotting spy hunt thriller movie. The quest has him travel to several Middle East and nearby countries including Israel, Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Pakistan

Spurlock sets out to do something similar to "Super Size Me" in this film while looking at the influence of al Qaeda. Like in his previous film, Spurlock uses humor as ammunition, especially in animation sequences, to make his more serious points.

Spurlock is clearly influenced by filmmaker Michael Moore, who pioneered this influential humorous documentary technique. Unlike Moore, Spurlock is far less political.

"Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden" starts out as very comical and filled with edgy jokes, but as the film unfolds, a more serious tone emerges. Some of the humor is hard-hitting, especially as Spurlock reviews foreign policy, and a few may be offended by Spurlock's jokes, especially if they are the type that finds Rush Limbaugh funny.

In each country he visited, Spurlock asks ordinary people on the street, journalists, students and political leaders of various viewpoints if they know where Osama bin Laden is, a question that often evokes laughter, but surprisingly, most people are open and frank in their discussions.

In Egypt talking to some al Qaeda supporters, one of the first issues they brought up is the Palestinians and Israel. Yet, when Spurlock visited Israel and talked to Palestinians, they tell him al Qaeda is not really interested in helping them and is merely using the issue as a way to whip up feelings among Muslims elsewhere.

In Israel, both Israelis and Palestinians expressed this view, and one Palestinian even said he thought al Qaeda's use of the Palestinian issue was a barrier to moving forward with the two-state solution and the potential for peace.

Another question that Spurlock asked in each country was if bin Laden is hiding there, prompting some interesting responses. In nearly every country, most people said no, bin Laden is in Pakistan. Curiously, when Spurlock asked Saudis the question "Is Osama bin Laden here?" they often responded, not by saying "no," but by slyly saying "maybe."

Spurlock encounters a few extremists, but most of the people he talks to are far more moderate, ordinary people going about their lives, who reject violence and al Qaeda, even when they expressed strong political views.

He makes a few missteps, like trying to conduct on-camera interviews with passing ultra-Orthodox Jews in front of their closed neighborhood in Israel, clearly unaware that any moviemaking would be unwelcome there and would meet with hostility from that community, which does not even attend movies.

"Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden" has plenty of humor, with some entertaining animation sequences and makes some good points. It is by no means a deep and scholarly exploration, but it reminds us of some things we may have forgotten.

"Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden" is a good second film from Morgan Spurlock, showing he has talent and the first was not a fluke. Many will find "Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden" a creative, interesting and informative exploration of the roots of al Qaeda's influence, while others will find it too light, and may even take offense that such a serious topic is handled in a humor-laced format.

It is worth a look for its evenhandedness and man-in-the-street approach, although it may be a tad too optimistic. The film is a worthy effort, although a little more depth would have made it even better.

"Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden" opened Friday, April 18, at Plaza Frontenac Theatre, where it is now playing exclusively for at least a one-week run.