"Freakonomics," the film version of Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner’s sensational 2005 non-fiction book of the same name, is not without its flaws. But it works because at its core, it stays true to the theme that made the book so successful: Let the numbers speak for themselves.

Both the book and the film claim to explore “the hidden side of everything,” bringing back some intriguing insights about our society and the pop culture trends that we take for granted. Levitt, a renowned economist at the University of Chicago, uses qualitative economic analysis to find startling answers to some unusual questions.

The film expands on five of the book’s many case studies, dealing with everything from corruption in Japanese sumo wrestling to whether Chicago-area 9th graders can be bribed to achieve better grades.  Each one of the case studies was placed in the hands of a prominent documentary filmmaker, all tied together by animation from executive producer Seth Gordon. In essence, the film is five mini-documentaries in one.

While the book relied heavily on hard data, tables, and statistics to make its points, the film lacks that luxury. Instead, each vignette took on a personalized tone as its respective director attempted to visualize Levitt and Dubner’s work.

In some cases, it succeeds – particularly in “Pure Corruption,” the segment on sumo wrestling directed by Alex Gibney. Gibney’s dark approach to the material is a wise one, and he’s able to take a very specific idea – that corruption in sumo wrestling is rampant despite the sport’s apparent commitment to honor and spirituality – and give it much broader implications. Gibney even compares sumo wrestlers, looked upon as icons of discipline and fairness in Japanese society, to the Wall Street bankers who brought about the financial collapse of the past 18 months. It’s quite a stretch, but he makes it work.

However, all the film’s segments aren’t as successful – particularly “A Roshanda by Any Other Name,” the piece directed by Morgan Spurlock (of Super Size Me fame). Spurlock takes a serious issue – whether employers discriminate against potential hires based on if the inherent racial component is connected to an ethnic name – and gives it his trademark lighthearted touch. It’s not necessarily a bad approach, but Spurlock seems more concerned with giving the audience a laugh than truly addressing the problem.

While viewers unfamiliar with the text will probably enjoy Spurlock’s take, the book’s fans might come away a little disappointed. The book attempted to answer whether being named DeJuan instead of John might have a measurable impact on job prospects, but Spurlock took what could have been told as a serious story and turned it into a silly one.

In its entirety, "Freakonomics" should be an enjoyable ride both for fans of the book and first-timers alike. But make no mistake – Steven Levitt’s unique research is still very much the star here, and the documentary as a whole only succeeds because of the strength of his arguments.

If you want to invest in a truly innovative piece of storytelling that'll be rewarding for a long time, make the responsible economic decision. Buy the book.

To reach reporter Kunal Bambawale, click here.