McDonald’s: The Rise and Fall of the McBrothers
Picture this: It’s the 1950s, and two brothers, Richard and Maurice McDonald, are flipping burgers in sunny California, blissfully unaware that their quaint little burger joint is about to become the setting for a corporate slapstick comedy of errors. Enter Ray Kroc, a milkshake machine salesman with all the charm of a used car dealer and the ambition of a caffeinated squirrel.
Ray stumbles upon the McDonald brothers’ restaurant while on a quest for a milkshake machine that can make six milkshakes at once. Why six, you ask? Because one milkshake is never enough, my friends! After witnessing the brothers’ smooth operation and the mesmerizing efficiency of their kitchen, Ray’s eyes light up like a kid who just found out about dessert first. He’s convinced he’s found the golden goose of fast food.
Ray, with all the subtlety of a freight train, approaches the brothers with a proposal that sounds like a bad infomercial pitch: “Let’s franchise this bad boy!” The McDonald brothers, who are as protective of their brand as a mother hen with her chicks, are skeptical. They want to keep their burger baby safe and sound, but Ray, with his relentless charm (and perhaps a hint of desperation), manages to sweet-talk them into letting him take the reins.
Fast forward to Ray’s attempts at expanding the brand—imagine him dashing around like a headless chicken, trying to convince every small-town diner owner that they too can have a slice of the golden arches. Spoiler alert: it’s not going well. He’s flailing like a fish out of water until he finds a way to turn the McDonald’s name into a household staple. If only the brothers could see him now, running around like a caffeinated squirrel on roller skates!
As Ray’s empire grows, so does his appetite for control. He starts to treat the McDonald brothers like they’re the last two fries in a large order—squashing them down until they’re flat. The brothers are increasingly alarmed as Ray begins to morph the brand into something that looks less like their original vision and more like a fast-food Frankenstein. “Hey, Ray, what’s with the neon signs and the drive-thru?!” they might as well be asking. But Ray’s too busy counting his profits and eyeing the next potential franchise like a hawk.
In a twist that could only happen in a corporate drama, Ray eventually pulls the rug out from under the McDonald brothers. He maneuvers them out of their own company with the finesse of a magician pulling a rabbit out of a hat—except this rabbit is the entire McDonald’s brand, and the hat is a legal contract. The brothers are left scratching their heads, wondering how the guy who came in to sell them milkshake machines ended up with their entire operation. Talk about a shake-up!
As the film progresses, we witness Ray’s transformation into a cutthroat businessman who’ll do anything to ensure McDonald’s dominance, including throwing the brothers under the proverbial bus. The final act is a masterclass in corporate betrayal, complete with Ray’s triumphant “I’m lovin’ it” moment—except it’s not that catchy yet. He’s just loving the fact that he’s now the king of fast food.
In the end, Ray Kroc becomes the face of McDonald’s, while the McDonald brothers are left in the dust, watching their creation morph into a global phenomenon that they never wanted. The film wraps up with a bittersweet note, leaving us to ponder: was it worth it, Ray? You’ve got the golden arches, but you’ve also got two brothers who just wanted to make a great burger. And honestly, who wouldn’t want to be friends with the guys who invented the Big Mac?
So there you have it, folks! The Founder serves up a deliciously messy slice of corporate America, complete with betrayal, ambition, and enough milkshakes to drown a small town. If you’re looking for a film that’s equal parts inspiring and cringe-worthy, you’ve found your golden ticket!