Darryl Roberts' film "America The Beautiful" asks the question "Does America have an unhealthy obsession with beauty?". I think we all know the answer to this question, but it's always refreshing to see a filmmaker pursue truth in this area.

Loosely following the sudden rise to fame of 12 year old model Gerren Taylor, Darryl also takes the opportunity to interview fashion magazine editor-in-chiefs, people in the advertising industry, plastic surgeons, and everyday people on the street regarding the origin of their views on beauty.

My husband and I missed the premiere night here in Dallas, which included a Q&A session with Darryl Roberts and discussion of the topic, which I am sure would have been great. But we were able to catch the matinee the next day and Darryl was there when the movie let out. We were able to thank him for bringing up this topic again.

The topic he raises is important to discuss, especially for parents, but I would not recommend seeing this film with children. Some of the footage of women and plastic surgery is very graphic and there are a few men they interview who are very crude and offensive in their references to their own bodies and women's bodies, hence the R rating. However, Darryl told us that he is working on an edited version that will be PG that can be shown in schools to prompt discussion about beauty standards and what our society believes in these areas.

I have to admit, sometimes this problem seems so huge that I don't even want to think about it. I mean, come on, I love my Glamour magazine! And if you read my blog you know about my current obsession with skin care and my love of beauty products.

But at the same time, it is important for us to take a step back and look at what we're doing as a society. The film points out how much money is involved in keeping this giant wheel of body image and dissatisfaction turning. There is no single voice, action, or movie that can stop it.I think that the best that we can probably do is keep bringing up the issue. All of us, over and over, bringing this topic into the open and replacing the lies with truth. Maybe if we bring it up often enough we can turn the tide...Hey, it worked for Al Gore and climate change...