Slacker Uprising (Captain Mike Across America)

The 2007 documentary film directed by Michael Moore, initially presented under the title "Captain Mike Across America" at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2007. The film documents Moore's 62-city tour across the United States in 2004, aiming to increase young voter turnout during the presidential election between George W. Bush and John Kerry. Moore stops at college campuses, staging rallies and events whose guests include Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello, Joan Baez, Steve Earle, R.E.M., Roseanne Barr, and Viggo Mortensen. The film showcases the enthusiasm and activism of youth striving to influence the political process. Following its premiere, Moore re-edited the film and released it under the title "Slacker Uprising" on September 23, 2008, making it available for free download in the U.S. and Canada, marking it as one of the first feature-length films legally distributed in this manner. The film received mixed reviews from critics; some viewed it as a nostalgic and self-promotional project, while others highlighted its significance in the context of youth political engagement.