Shaky aim on Osama

Filmmaker-gadfly Morgan Spurlock is back with the warm, amusing -- and decidedly mistitled -- “Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden?”

As with “Super Size Me,” Spurlock comes nowhere near his stated intention in the new pseudo-documentary. But while his earlier effort had more to do with self-promotion than exploring the real-life consequences of American eating habits, “Where in the World” has a soft center that cushions the filmmaker’s poor aim.

The movie consists mostly of Spurlock’s sometimes charming, sometimes alarming visits with citizens throughout the Middle East as he supposedly searches for Bin Laden, the man, as well as Bin Laden, the idea. Since he and his editors take a less than scientific approach, however, the anecdotal evidence they offer that people of those regions love Americans despite hating the American government is less than conclusive.

The film’s lack of interest in actually finding Bin Laden is clear when it doesn’t even approach his most widely rumored location until the final minutes. Spurlock’s real intent seems to be illustrating the senselessness of the wars we’re fighting through a feel-good message of tolerance.

Toward that end, this well-meaning film probably would disappoint less were it titled “We’re Not So Different; Can’t We All Just Get Along?”

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“Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden?” MPAA rating: PG-13 for some strong language. Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes. In limited release.