The Founder

In cinemas February 17th!

Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton) is a hustling anything-for-a-dollar businessman currently trying, and failing, to sell milkshake makers as he drives across the country. Just one in a long line of ventures dampening his spirits and putting a strain on his marriage. Out of the blue he receives an order for six machines to a single restaurant and assuming it’s a mistake he calls them to confirm. This is when he learns of a little family burger business called McDonalds.

Infinitely curious he drives straight out to the restaurant and meets with the two brothers who founded what he immediately recognises as a revolution in food service. He learns their story and simply can’t get it out of his head. Now obsessed he pursues the McDonald brothers relentlessly with the idea of franchising the business and despite their reservations we all know that the McDonalds brand expands beyond even Ray’s expectations.

The film isn’t daft enough to pretend there’s tension in the question of whether or not McDonalds will succeed so the story focuses around Ray and his various relationships, the strain the business puts on his already questionable marriage, his growing rivalry with the brothers and just how far he’s prepared to go to get what he wants. It’s the classic (even perhaps the origin) of the modern tale of corporate greed destroying small business, the ultimate lesson in American capitalism, and in that regard it is a truly fascinating story.

And as much as the true story element is interesting the film is equally held together by a fantastic cast all bringing their top game, Nick Offerman and John Carroll Lynch as the McDonald brothers are a well balanced duo taken down by their own ambition. If there’s a weak link it’s the ladies (female characters, what are they?) as Laura Dern is sympathetic as Ray’s put-upon wife but we never quite learn enough about her to see their relationship as more than a background detail so when it starts to fall apart you can’t help but wonder if there’s anything there worth saving anyway.

Also it’s all a little tame. Ray is our “hero” but the movie is never quite for or against him, though that does leave the audience to decide which side of the argument their ideologies fall. A villain from some characters eyes but certainly a hero to others. Watching how he grew the McDonalds brand will give you a weird uplifting feeling whilst part of you just wants to hate everything he represents. Personally I liked this, very few people are truly good or evil and whilst the “good” Ray does is usually only because it’s in his best interests it is still good.

It’s not like there isn’t tension to be found, I went in knowing only the bare bones of the story and found myself enthralled, even anxious about what might transpire. Unfortunately, particularly towards the end, there’s a habit for dramatic beats to happen off screen, which was a little jarring and I certainly would have rather seen them played out, but it didn’t ruin anything for me as such.

Personally I found this movie a fascinating insight into a business world I didn’t previously understand, an intriguing tale of the creation of one of the most recognised brands around the world and a well crafted character study that Keaton holds expertly. And whilst it doesn’t do any of those specific elements to perfection it juggles them all effortlessly. ​

Review by Kristian Mitchell-Dolby.

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