Run Fatboy Run– 2008
Run Fat Boy Run, is smoke in the fog, a drop of water in the ocean; it is so unimposing and light that the only thing keeping it from floating away is the Fat Boy. Yet, despite lacking such quintessence, it manages to grab you, by its ghostly fingers and hold you for a most enjoyable time at the movies.
I am annoyed at the onslaught of comments, lambasting this flick for lacking, well, pretty much all the qualities of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, and while not as good as those two films it doesn’t have to be. Why everyone was expecting such is beyond me, as except for Simon Pegg there is nothing that would tie it to these previous two efforts. It would thusly stand to reason to bash any film that is not the collective best of an actor. Harrison Ford would have had an abysmal career after Raiders of the Lost Arc if every film of his following, had been expected to equal such success. Take each film made as what it is, and judge it impartially, and after your decision has been made you can look at a broad history of those involved.
Marking the directorial debut of Friend’s David Schwimmer, he proves here that he has a director’s knack. I am not sure how this film got me, as the backbone is a recycled romantic comedy pasted behind a marathon backdrop but the performances defiantly work to this films advantage as Pegg and comedic veteran Hank Azaria are perfect for their roles and complemented by relative unknown Dylan Moran (who worked with Pegg before in Shaun of the Dead), should continue to have a successful career after his work here.
Dennis (Pegg) decides it is better to end it quick and painless with his pregnant bride Libby (Thandie Newton), by running out (literally) on his wedding. Years later, lonely, apart from his son and working as a security guard at a local department store, he hatches a plan to win her back; run a marathon with the help of Gordon (Moran) and his landlord, to show he’s still got it, and to show up Libby’s new boyfriend Whit (Azaria). The thing is, running a marathon is not only about as tantalizing as a kick in the groin, but our dear hero Dennis has a healthy (or not so healthy) beer gut. The relationship between Libby and Dennis is sufficient, not bursting with noticeable chemistry, but most satisfactory, and the deteriorating association between Dennis and Whit is very funny. At one scene, Whit and Dennis are in a locker room following a spin class, and after raising his leg onto a bench, drops his towel, allowing the sitting Dennis to see him “eye to eye” so to speak. This scene was not totally rehearsed, as Pegg though Azaria would be wearing some sort of cover, but wardrobe issues led to Azaria forgoing such a luxury, and the reaction form Pegg is priceless.
The best thing about Run Fat boy Run is Schwimmer’s ability to make us believe that if Dennis wins (or in this case finishes) the Nike River Run, Libby will take him back. The events surrounding the race solidify the ends and is not represented as a blunt, “You win, I’ll take you back” scenario. The resulting conclusion is never in doubt and this is light harmless fare to be certain, but why must we constantly be harmed at a comedy. Never destined to be throned king of comedy, never strived for as much, it is consistently sweet and charming, and represents a breezy light-hearted way to waste away an afternoon.
© Simon Brookfield 2008
