Escape From Affluenza

Americans throw away a ton of stuff a year...literally (and with my 60 lb. wheeled garbage can, I count myself as one of the more egregious consumption criminals bellying up to the Wasteful American Trough; I will offer up 10 Hail Costcos upon finishing this review). On the other hand, one of the couples interviewed in this sequel to John de Graaf and Vivia Boe's wonderful Affluenza (VL-11/97) have gotten their annual garbage down to one (1!) bag. Whereas the original program was a hard-hitting look at the environmental, social and personal costs of rampant consumerism, Escape From Affluenza--hosted by Wanda Urbanski (author of Simple Living: One Couple's Search for a Better Life)--looks at potential solutions, visiting advocates of the simple life from Seattle to the Netherlands. Viewers will see a wide range of examples (some helpful: how to determine the precise amount of shampoo necessary to lather up those remaining seven strands of hair; some not: kayaking to work--an idea of limited usefulness) from folks who have long since surrendered the race to the Joneses, as well as learn about movements within the society to spread the good word(s) of reducing, re-using and recycling. I especially liked the high school class in which today's advertising-bombarded youth are taught to "stretch a dollar until it screams." Not as tightly focused or engaging as its predecessor, Escape From Affluenza is still easily recommended. And I'm going to get to work on that trashcan. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Pitman)