Run, Fat Boy, Run (2008) Review

Run, Fat Boy, Run

By Winston • April 2, 2008

Starring: Simon Pegg, Hank Azaria, Thandie Newton, Ameet Chana, Dylan Moran

Director: David Schwimmer

Writer(s): Michael Ian Black, Simon Pegg

Studio: Picturehouse

Rating: PG-13

Official Bar Score:

Leave it to Simon Pegg to prove that a PG-13 romantic comedy is worth watching.

Quite frankly, I wasn’t completely convinced that a critically ignored British comedy directed by one of the “Friends” would be worth a damn, but I was drawn to the project due to the screenplay written by Pegg and Michael Ian Black, a former member of the hilarious comedy group “The State”. But there were a lot of things that had me worried. The aforementioned “PG-13 romantic comedy” was enough to make me nervous, but there is also a slight problem with the story as it relates to the title: Simon Pegg is not fat by any stretch of the imagination. Out of shape? Maybe. But fat? That is a stretch.

I should probably explain the story before I go any further. Simon Pegg plays Dennis, a charming, lovable loser who leaves his pregnant fiancee Libby (Newton) at the altar. Fast forward some years, and Pegg is still a lovable loser and still pines for his ex, but she has found a new man in the successful American Whit (Azaria). He’s rich, he’s powerful, and above all he is in shape, at the moment prepping for a marathon. But he is also a dick, and his appearance in the picture and the threat of losing the love of his life and his child becomes too much for Dennis to bear, at which point he joins the marathon to prove to Libby that he has changed and is capable of going through with anything.

It sounds like your typical romantic comedy, and at it’s core it is. But what separates it from the majority of films of this nature is the clever dialog and the performances turned in by the cast. I am a huge fan of Pegg on the strength of “Shaun of the Dead” (one of the main inspirations of Dr. Monkey and I in starting The Bar) and the overlooked “Hot Fuzz”. His brand of parody and satire is different than most because he creates what could be a legit entry in the genre he is tackling and then adds genuinely funny jokes to it, as opposed to making everything over the top and predictable. “Run, Fat Boy, Run” is not on the same level as his previous works, nor is it a satire or parody. But the jokes are there in spades and make the film worth watching, regardless of gender.

And kudos to David Schwimmer for letting the cast do what comes naturally to them, as I can honestly say that not a single person phoned in their performance. I was particularly impressed with Dylan Moran (the pussy from “Shaun of the Dead”). The biggest laughs of the film come from scenes involving his crude but lively sidekick character that goes above and beyond the call of duty to motivate his friend, even if it turns out to be for selfish reasons. Azaria did a great job as well, although 20 years of “The Simpsons” has made it extremely difficult to watch him in anything without expecting Homer to pop up at some point.

I liked it a lot, but in the end it’s still a formulaic romantic comedy, ensuring that it’s as predictable and artificial as they come. But it’s the best romantic comedy to come around since “Knocked Up”, which says a lot. I’m looking forward to another project with David Schwimmer at the helm (something I’d never thought I’d say because, well, fuck “Friends”), and even more so from Pegg and company because they just can’t seem to miss. Don’t sleep on this, it’s a great date movie because both parties will enjoy it.