The Founder (2016)

*** out of ****

When I was a kid, I knew who Ray Kroc was – he was the always-smiling, benevolent owner of the San Diego Padres. I also knew he'd made his money in McDonald's (which confused me, as his name was not McDonald), but really I didn't know much more than that. The film “The Founder”, based on his entry into and building of the McDonald's empire, shows that Kroc was a considerably different man than that perception I had of him in the 1970s.

The film begins in 1953, with Kroc (Michael Keaton) chasing his million-dollar dreams. He's one of those guys that doesn't believe in building his life and wealth slowly – he wants it all and he wants it now. This has left him chasing one get-rich-quick scheme after another, and as he entered his 50s he was selling multi station milkshake mixers to burger stands. But when he receives an order one day for 8 multi-mixers, he thinks it must be a mistake – what kind of restaurant could possibly need to mix 42 milkshakes at a time?

So he travels to San Bernadino, California where he meets Dick and Mac McDonald (Nick Offerman and John Carroll Lynch). Their hamburger stand is built entirely around quality and speed – creating the same food over and over again, exactly the same every time..... in almost NO time. Kroc is fascinated by everything they've done; the “speedy system”, the disposable packaging, and the fact they only had five things on their menu – hamburgers, cheeseburgers, french fries, milkshakes and soda. Kroc finds out that they've tried franchising their system, but that it didn't work. Seeing it as another “million-dollar-idea”, Kroc convinces them that he can do better and sets off to build an empire.

Keaton is absolutely wonderful as Ray Krok, especially for the second half of the movie when Kroc's “kill or be killed” ruthlessness in business becomes a centerpoint of the story. Offerman and Lynch are equally excellent, one as the hard-assed bossman (who really is a small thinker) and the other as a “can't we all just get along” rube with good intentions. Laura Dern has a small part as Kroc's long-suffering wife, but it's an extraneous part with no meat, and she simply takes up space in her scenes.

“The Founder” is really a very good film. I don't know enough of the real-life story to know how accurate the depiction is, but the movie is just flat-out enjoyable, even if more from a historical standpoint than a purely entertainment one. Keaton, who started out as a rom-com guy has been showing how good his acting chops are for a long time – in 1990 he played his first bad guy in “Pacific Heights” and since then has turned in some fabulous performances. He didn't get any award nominations for his portrayal, but I would call it every bit as solid as any work he's done lately (if not quite as eclectic as some of the roles).

Not one that will go down in history as the subject matter isn't for all tastes, but absolutely a fine film that I highly recommend.