By Ryan Cornell

At first glance, Lisa Switzer is the all-American stereotype. She’s loud, overweight and Texan. But she has one big problem. After using every method imaginable, she is unable to conceive a baby. Together with her husband, Brian, they start researching surrogacy and stumble across the latest industry being outsourced to India ­— pregnancy.

Co-directed by Rebecca Haimowitz and Vaishali Sinha, “Made in India” tackles the issues behind the booming surrogacy market in India — a $450 million, male-dominated market. Because the practice costs $70,000-100,000 in the US, increasing numbers of desperate women are turning to the East.

Lisa, one of these women, is at the center of “Made in India.” She strikes what she thinks is gold when she finds a surrogacy agency called Planet Hospital. The price is $25,000-$30,000, remarkably cheaper than US equivalents, but she has no idea about the trouble that lies ahead.

On the other side of the world, Aasia is a mother who needs extra money to support her family. She refers to surrogacy as becoming “pregnant with medicine” and her husband scorns her decision.

Shortly after Aasia gives birth to a set of twins, the two couples find themselves at an impasse. The twins are born prematurely at around three and a half pounds. The hospital is refusing to give Lisa and Brian their babies. Planet Hospital isn’t giving Aasia any more than $2,500 for her work. And Aasia is asking the couple for more money.

One of the strongest aspects of “Made in India” is the constant juxtaposition of cultures. The directors chose to compare the extremes between poverty and technology in India with American society. When Lisa is clad in a revealing top, Aasia is shown in a burka. When the couple shops for plus size wear, the next scenes reveal Indian malnourished children. After its release, the documentary triggered investigations from women’s rights groups and the Indian parliament into the ethics of “baby mills” like Planet Hospital.

Although the film is comprehensive and well backed by statistics and sources, viewers will struggle to suppress yawns. Occasionally the husband will break up long stretches of slow-paced dialogue with comic relief, but the 92-minute runtime could’ve easily been condensed to something easier to swallow.

Vox Rating: VVV