Michael Moore’s wry first-person documentary “Where to Invade Next,” his first since 2009’s “Capitalism: A Love Story,” isn’t what it sounds like. The title suggests a cry, or a typically ironic Moore screed, against the history and dangers of recent U.S. foreign policy. But Moore’s latest goes a different direction. It follows one goofball firebrand’s “invasion” of a few choice countries abroad where the spending priorities and social safety nets are more to his liking, and offer plenty to envy.
Moore states his mission up front. “I will invade countries populated by Caucasians with names I can mostly pronounce,” he says, narrating the action, “take the things we need from them, and bring it all back home to the United States of America.” Thus begins his breezy if somewhat attenuated suggestion list.
The intense and white-hot snark of “Fahrenheit 9/11” has mellowed here, as has the bitter outlook of much of his work. “Where to Invade Next” may fall prey to some of the usual generalities and factual shortcuts, but there’s a more optimistic and embracing spirit behind it.
First stop: Italy, where Moore cherry-picks examples of factories that treat their employees like queens and kings, and thanks to both the company and the country, workers enjoy up to two months’ paid vacation. In rural Normandy, Moore pals around with schoolchildren being treated to a typical and (apparently) typically amazing hot lunch. As Moore shares photos of American school lunches with his French hosts, their faces say it all.