Ready, Set, Bag!

This engaging documentary revolves around an annual grocery bagging competition, which culminates in a trip to Las Vegas for the state champions and their families (plus $2,000 for the winner). Frank DiPasquale of the National Grocers Association not only feels that the event helps reinforce the importance of customer service, but also believes that the lowest members on the service industry food chain deserve the chance to shine. Justine Jacob and Alex D. da Silva concentrate on eight of 2007's 24 contestants—ranging from high school and college students to middle-aged men and women—who in their free time hang out with friends, and play video games, among other activities. If the state competitions are largely low-key affairs, the California equivalent plays like a super-charged frat party. Everything ultimately leads up to the annual event in Vegas, where participants bag a set amount of groceries as quickly as possible without breaking, crushing, or leaving out any items. For many, bagging isn't just a job: 17-year-old Jacob from Virginia says that it helped him to come out of his shell after his parents' divorce. The filmmakers also speak with store managers, trainers, and relatives. While quite similar to other competition-oriented documentaries (such as Spellbound [VL-1/04 ] and Wordplay [VL-11/06]), Ready, Set, Bag! also features compelling stories about working-class hopes and dreams. Recommended. Aud: P. (K. Fennessy)