Customer Reviews

Run, Fatboy, Run

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(24)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I have really enjoyed Simon Pegg's films and 'Run Fatboy Run is no exception. With a winning cast this romantic comedy is much better than most films of this nature. If you liked 'Shawn Of The Dead' and 'Hot Fuzz', you should like this film.

David Schwimmer who directs this smart and funny love story is to be commended for giving us an inspiring feel good romantic comedy without over loading it with artificial sweeteners.

The '08 cinematic release ' Run, Fatboy, Run' is a quirky, British film filled with humor, dry or otherwise, and lots of heart, kind of a lighthearted 'Rocky' you might say. It's one of those girl found, girl lost, girl regained story lines that have you initially rooting against the poor smuck (Simon Pegg) who eventually wins you over and has you rooting for him at the end. Lots of good entertainment value provided by Pegg, Hank Azaria and the lovely Thandie Newton. I guess you could call this one "Love for the Athletically Challenged".

The unfortunately titled Run Fatboy Run comes from that risky, murky water where comedians decide they want to be sweeties. Sometimes, this can be golden: Simon Pegg, who stars as the slobbering, unreconstructed-on-the-way-to-construction hero, Dennis, is particularly talented at juggling the flatulent with the heartwarming. However, it's a dangerous idea, as comedians can sometimes get derailed on their way to sensitive, saccharine warmth, and end up in the horribly, gouge-your-eyes-out maudlin. For example, Robin Williams in a number of films (though What Dreams May Come may be the most notorious), or Adam Sandler's nauseating self-pity in the gratingly unfunny Funny People.

Adam Sandler's actually a good match for Simon Pegg, as they both specialize in frat boy (or, well, the British equivalent) humo(u)r that is underscored by a genuine authenticity - they are both adept at playing man-children. Run Fatboy Run introduces us to Dennis (Simon Pegg) on the day of his wedding: his gorgeous, pregnant bride-to-be, Libby (Thandie Newton), chats with her amiable cousin, Gordon (Dylan Moran), and Dennis? He's the one sprinting down the street, away from the garden party. Fast forward five years and fifteen kilos, and Dennis, now a dumpy security guard, is sprinting after a (incidentally hilarious!) transvestite shoplifter. He lives in a basement flat, where he is periodically heckled by his (incidentally hilarious) landlord, Mr. Goshdashtidar (Harish Patel, from My Son the Fanatic), for perpetually forgetting his keys.

When Dennis visits Libby to pick up their son, Jake (Matthew Fenton), he is introduced to Libby's new boyfriend: Whit (Hank Azaria). Whit is everything Dennis is not: a successful hedge fund manager, he showers Libby and Jake with expensive gadgets and affection, is breezily self-confident in a very American way, and runs charity marathons for fun. Dennis, privately, seethes. He decides to remedy his broken heart and dead-end life by challenging Whit to his own marathon. Everyone does a lot of scoffing and snorting with laughter - what, Dennis? the fat guy? a marathon? - and Dennis, meanwhile, with his gambling buddy, Gordon, and Mr. Goshdashtidar, gets down to training. The rest of the film follows the usual course.

Run Fatboy Run generally avoids some of the disasterous pitfalls which threaten a movie like this, mostly because, as we said above, Simon Pegg has a good handle on balancing sympathy with humor, and we have a very high tolerance for seeing him be sad before we consider it over-the-top and indulgent. We think this is generally because Pegg sparingly uses that most deadliest of comic weapons - irony - and hence never distances himself from the character. Yes, Dennis is a clumsy, Homer Simpson-esque buffoon, but he's also, always, human. Everything is played straight. Example: when Dennis, in usual Disney-style manipulation, momentarily loses his son, there is real horror and panic. It's a credit to Pegg, who specializes in airy comedy that's been deep fried in pop culture, that he is actually a very authentic actor indeed.

Other cast members, such as Dylan Moran and Harish Patel, have a good ol' time and offer charming support to the central conceit. For the most part, the film succeeds because it feels more like a Nick Hornby movie (we were specifically reminded of About a Boy (Widescreen Edition)), though things spiral slightly out of control with the climax, which becomes so sticky with sugar that we had to go wash our eyeballs. All in all, it's not a memorable film and Pegg's characteristic surrealism is missing, but it's a modest and inoffensive heart-shaped fluff piece. We can handle that.

*Review originally published at The Post-Punk Cinema Club: [...].

So after watching this fun comedy, I noticed in the credtis that the movie was directed by former Friend's Alum David Schwimmer. Congrats to him, as this was an enjoyable movie that made the most of its leads; especially the always funny Simon Pegg. Hank Azaria was also very good being very bad in the film. This British comedy had a very American film, which may have led a bit to its disjointed feel, at times. Overall, this was a fun movie with some moments of true hilarity. I wouldn't necessarily say Run to watch this movie, but maybe walk fast. This is a movie right at 3.5 stars.

Run Fatboy Run is a lightweight comedy that has a fair number of entertaining moments but there's nothing very original or memorable about it. Dennis, the title character, is portrayed amusingly enough by Simon Pegg (although, oddly, he's not really fat - just a bit pot-bellied). The supporting cast (Thandie Newton, Hank Azaria and Dylan Moran) all put in decent performances as well, but they play stock characters. Entertaining enough for a Friday night with a beer, but not up to Pegg's two previous films.

The dvd is fine, but it came in a clear dvd case which I am fine with but was expecting the art work thats all.

I liked the movie a lot. This isn't an in depth review, just a general statement that I'd recommend seeing it. Buying it... if you get a good deal. I got it for my friend who I just started running and wanted to show her a way to make light of the pain one goes through.

After the delight of 'Hot Fuzz' I was expecting great things from this film, but sadly I was left slightly disappointed. There are a few funny moments (mostly the bits that were put in the trailer!) and Dylan Moran is as great as ever, but this film failed to live up to expectation. I found it rather lack lustre, with it failing to gain any real momentum. But as far as an innocuous Sunday afternoon comedy goes you can't really go wrong. Just don't expect many, if any, belly laughs.

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Directed by David Schwimmer (of Friends fame), this is a heartwarming tale of Dennis (Simon Pegg), a lovable loser who can't seem to finish anything. Dennis' biggest regret is abandoning his pregnant fiancé at the altar seconds before the ceremony. Years later, he is willing to do whatever it takes to win her back. To prove his love, he vows to complete a marathon, a task which no one believes he can accomplish. With the help of two quirky coaches, Dennis takes on the challenge of training for the 26 mile race. Will true love give him the strength he needs?

This movie is a little more serious than some of Simon Pegg's other outings, but it still has a wide mix of comedy styles, from fart jokes up to dry wit. It's definitely worth seeing. It's alot better than Hot Fuzz, which I felt had too outlandish a story to be enduring. On the other hand I loved Shaun of the Dead and what is more outlandish than zombies? One interesting thing about this movie is the title illustrates the different world views of what "fat" is. Simon Pegg IS fat. Some Americans would think he's not fat at all, but that's cause we're used to thinking "fat" when we see obese, hyper obese or even morbidly hyper obese people. In other words, we're the fattest nation on Earth cause of our polluted food system. Go Organic!!!!