Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
100 pounds overweight, loaded up on steroids and suffering from a debilitating autoimmune disease, Joe Cross is at the end of his rope and the end of his hope. In the mirror he saw a 310lb man whose gut was bigger than a beach ball and a path laid out before him that wouldn't end well— with one foot already in the grave, the other wasn't far behind. FAT, SICK & NEARLY DEAD is an inspiring film that chronicles Joe's personal mission to regain his health.
Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead is a genuinely inspiring personal documentary following Joe Cross's juice-fasting journey across America. The plot is straightforward and personal, with a compelling arc as Joe not only transforms himself but connects with a trucker named Phil who mirrors his struggle — giving the film emotional resonance beyond a simple health journey. Acting is not really applicable in the traditional sense, but the documentary subjects (Joe, Phil, various roadside Americans) come across as authentic if occasionally stiff. Cinematography is functional road-doc fare — decent but unremarkable, with standard talking-head and travel footage. Novelty earns a modest bump because the juice-fasting subgenre was relatively fresh at the time and the cross-country American road trip framing gave it a distinctive voice, though it shares DNA with other personal health documentaries. The ending is satisfying and emotionally earned, particularly with Phil's storyline providing genuine stakes and a bittersweet resolution.