CRITICS’PICKS

The 1980s ushered in an explosion of butt-kicking in America, observes Christopher Bell in his funny and surprisingly insightful documentary, “Bigger, Stronger, Faster.” Schwarzenegger, Stallone and Hulk Hogan captured the popular imagination, and as overweight kids, Bell and his brothers were susceptible to the message. What began as a documentary about steroid use in America, “Bigger, Stronger, Faster” turns out to be a comprehensive look at a culture predicated on might and obsessed with success. Through interviews and news, movie and cartoon footage, and Bell family videos, the film shows a country in which it’s nearly impossible to win playing by the rules.