Naming a film Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden is setting yourself up for a battering. If Morgan Spurlock had brought his man in we might have heard something before now.

Spurlock’s reason for tracking down the Al Qaeda No.1 is that his wife is pregnant, and action movies have taught us that a lone maverick is best at saving the day and bringing about world peace.

Unfortunately, Spurlock’s movie fails to rise above the simplistic hi-octane films that inspired it.

What could have been an illuminating investigation into Bin Laden’s bogeyman persona, Bush’s failure to catch him, and the smokescreen of Iraq is instead a Middle Eastern travelogue that teaches, hey! Muslims are people too and can’t we all just get along?

The film goes easy on Bush’s administration, avoiding the big questions while serving up the standard recent history lessons – who now doesn’t know the US sold arms to Saddam?

Bouncing from country to country like levels on a computer game (PS3 style animation and all) Spurlock and co. take in Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Pakistan, mucking in with the locals (including aggressive Hassidic Jews not impressed with the director’s aw-shucks personality) in a light on substance love-in.

Only in Saudi Arabia does the film’s belief that Middle Easterners are just like Americans slam against the concrete wall of hardline fundamentalism and anti-West sentiment. The best scene comes when Spurlock attempts to interview two terrified students under the intimidating eye of their teacher and headmaster.

Even the film’s title is swiftly forgotten save for the director occasionally posing it as a question to bemused passers-by.

The lasting impression is that Spurlock was never interested in tracking down his prey but rather, with a baby on the way, craved one last adventure and the chance to fire rocket launchers with Marines in Afghanistan.

Spurlock must put more meat in his movies if he wants Michael Moore's crown.

Rob Daniel