It has been a long time since I have seen a “liberal” documentary that left me smiling instead of rolling my eyes. Well, it had been a long time — until Where in the World is Osama bin Laden?, writer-producer-director Morgan Spurlock’s second full-length feature.

The premise: In late 2004, Osama bin Laden, named terrorist and purported role model to so many Jihaders, effectively disappeared, but not before having imposed a “reign of terror” on America.

Two years later, with his wife pregnant, Spurlock realized what a scary world we live in, and felt it irresponsible to let his child grow up in such a climate. His best idea was to hunt down the man whose name has appeared all over the news in connection with 9/11 and extremist action everywhere.

After a training montage during which our hero reads up on Al Qaeda, learns what to do in a hostage situation and picks up some Arabic, Spurlock is prepared to begin his mission.

He goes to Morocco, where he learns that the majority of men who become suicide bombers and turn to other forms of terrorism do so because of extreme socio-economic deficit and desperation. They feel that suicide bombing is an easy way to gain money for their families and entry into the kingdom of Heaven (Muslims in the film will have you know “that is not Islam”).

He also visits Jordan, Palestine, Israel, Pakistan and Afghanistan, where people in each territory share their views on the situation and offer directions as to where bin Laden might be.

“Somebody once said to me that if the documentary you end up with is the same idea you started with, then you didn’t listen to anybody on the way,” Spurlock said.

It is this kind of attitude that makes Where in the World is Osama bin Laden? a comedy-drama-political-news piece instead of the satirical, political editorials-disguised-as-news pieces I am sick of seeing. This film is partisan-free, and unlike others in its genre, its slant is neither obvious nor subtle.

It’s informative and educational for anyone who feels he or she does not understand the Middle East or its relation to global politics.

Don’t think it’s all serious, however; surprisingly relevant flash sequences, like the elusive Osama bin Laden and his cohorts dancing to M.C. Hammer’s “Can’t Touch This” in an opening sequence and a combat stage game interface contribute to a host of witty features that will have you laughing and rapt.

By interviewing the common people, Spurlock shows in this poignant film that “there are a lot more people out there that are just like us than are just like him.”