Photograph by Kevin Clifford
Run Fatboy Run Movie Review 
by Kevin Clifford on 28 Mar 2008
By Brandon Freund
Another Pointless Comedy? My Favorite!
If you're anything like me, you are all going to have a difficult time anticipating the release of this year's next British romantic comedy. Run Fat Boy Run is already on its way to becoming exactly what we would expect…another pointless comedy. But is that so bad? The talents of Simon Pegg, Thandie Newton, and Hank Azaria help bring this piece of work to life.
One might think this movie to be a waste of time, but the truth is we know we're going laugh our lunch up at least once, so it will draws us in. I believe you will only be slightly less intelligent afterwards.
The entire movie is based around the decisions of Dennis, played by Simon Pegg who also co-wrote the script. All his life, Dennis has been unable to finish anything he's started. The movie opens as he abandons his pregnant fiancé Libby (Newton) on their wedding day, running away in fear. For the next five years, Dennis just can't get things right, nor can he move on. When he's confronted by his ex-fiancé's new boyfriend - the ultra fit and ultra successful Whit (Azaria) - Dennis desperately begins a quest to maintain his status as the alpha male in the lives of his son and the woman he lost. To prove himself, and win back his lost love, Dennis decides the best thing to do is enlist in his first marathon right alongside Whit, his much more experienced competition. The only problem: Dennis wasn't born with even an inkling of athleticism.
Actually, as intellectually stimulating the storyline seems, there is quite a bit of talent behind this work of art. To begin, directing this masterpiece is our favorite David Schwimmer (aka. Ross) of Friends fame. As his first full length film on the other end of the camera, it was interesting to see his talents at work in another arena. The talents at David's disposal are a number of actors you've probably seen before, the kind you just can't remember what from. And that's about it.
I have to say that I wasn't impressed at first. I beat the actors to the punch lines more than once. But as the plot developed, I have to admit, I laughed out loud more and more as it reached the climax. Most of the humor improves as the other minor characters begin to take a more prominent roles, and Dennis realizes the sheer scale of the task he has undertaken. I found myself sharing his anxiety as you watch his last minute preparations and began to actually cheer him on.
As a marathon runner in training myself, I enjoyed the commentary on how difficult a task it is to finish a marathon. It's no Rocky, but as the big day arrives, you're praying for a miracle as much as Dennis. It took a little while to catch my interest, but after a bit I really began to enjoy myself. It finally reached that special place in my heart I like to call "movie heaven" - as opposed to movie hell where all the bad movies go. I could even feel my heart warming as the film came to an end. And whether or not this is your kind of dumb romantic comedy, it's bound to have all the guys declaring together with Dennis, "I'm sick of being a nearly man!" It might just inspire you to turn your life around and stop running - or start running to turn your life around.
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