Where In the World Is Osama bin Laden? ** (PG-13) | A reckless, selfish journey

BY CHRISTY LEMIRE

Associated Press

To say that the Super Size Me director's latest documentary is a gimmick would be a gross understatement. It's also a given; gimmicks are Morgan Spurlock's trademark. Just as nobody put a gun to his head and made him eat McDonald's for 30 days straight in his amusing 2004 debut, no one forced him to visit some of the most dangerous places on the globe seeking the elusive al-Qaeda leader.

The journey -- which takes Spurlock from his New York home to such countries as Egypt, Morocco, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Pakistan -- isn't just reckless but selfish. He says he was inspired by the impending birth of his first child to find bin Laden and make the world a safer place. Yet he leaves his wife, Alexandra, at home to worry about him as he repeatedly puts himself in harm's way over several months.

After an animated introduction in which he depicts himself battling bin Laden mano a mano, video-game style, Spurlock prepares himself for the various perils that lie ahead by working out, getting all his shots, undergoing kidnapping training and learning what to do should a live grenade tumble into his path.

Then, as he jets from place to place, he provides glib, oversimplified tidbits about Mideast history.

The one useful thing to emerge from Spurlock's travels are the discussions he has with regular folks about bin Laden, the United States, world relations and their personal dreams. These parts feel enlightening and real and reflect Spurlock's regular-guy persona, which has always been his strongest asset.

Then he bangs us over the head with a concluding voiceover, informing us of something we've surely deduced on our own already: It's a small world after all. ''We all want the same things for our families,'' he intones brightly.

Meanwhile, his wife is back in Manhattan by herself (except for the camera crew, of course) having early contractions and telling him about them on the cellphone.

Director: Morgan Spurlock

Screenwriters: Jeremy Chilnick, Morgan Spurlock

Producers: Jeremy Chilnick, Stacy Offman, Morgan Spurlock.

A Weinstein Co. release. Running time: 93 minutes. Strong language. Playing at: In Miami-Dade: South Beach; in Broward: Gateway; in Palm Beach: Shadowood.