Definitely not the best Simon Pegg starring role, this came around just after Hot Fuzz which I enjoyed far more. It is is an entertaining film, especially all the Dylan Moran scenes. I am Biast though, I fucking LOVE Moran. Romantic comedy's get a bit tiring, but thankfully this is slightly more comedy I feel. Worth a watch, but not fantastic.
*sigh* It was teh ghea. Course, really. What did I expect? I almost thought I'd laugh at least. Instead of a couple snorts here and there. Simon Pegg was ever adorable naturally, but so didn't fit the part. Sorry. I just couldn't adjust.
I went in not knowing what to think, except I like Simon Pegg and could stand David Schwimmer. It was ok. It was predictable. It was sweet, but I knew what was gonna happen minutes before it did. Eh, It's not bad, though.
Should have been funnier - Pegg is very good but this story has been done before and so limited this film's attempt at keeping me hooked as I knew how it would all end - and it wasn't in tears. Sadly...
Hey you know what sucks? This movie. Predictable, and short of the ginger guys usual charming, lovable (and in this film apparently strap on pudgy funny) this movie is a step backwards in the movie direction. Ok not a step backwards because I still gave it a .5. So, adding to a bad genre of movies.
Whit: "I actually ran the London Marathon. Dennis: Oh that's a coincidence. Whit: Why's that? Dennis: Oh, I watched it on the tele... well... the last hour... I sleep in on Sundays."
Did the guy who came up with two of the greatest comedies of modern cinema really dream up a gag about a volcanic foot boil being popped in some poor guy's face? Even for as titanic a comedic talent as Simon Pegg, collaboration is everything, and there's a WORLD of difference between him working with long-time mates Edgar Wright and Nick Frost and him working with an actor and "comedian" who also happens to call himself a writer called Michael Ian Black (the creator of the unenjoyable TV comedy "Stella" and one of the recent gay daemons in "Reaper") and "director" David Schwimmer.
Run Fatboy Run is a perfect example, a perfect reminder that the man - the actor - doesn't make the film, that the writting will always be more important. Run Fatboy Run is a disappointingly average comedy. So average in fact that at every turn you will be thinking, "Hmm, haven't I seen this before in 'Film X' or 'TV Show Y'?" In a way it's the very antithesis of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, which were not only hilarious but also brilliantly clever and original self-referential parodies of their respective genres.
Amiable. Bland. Cute. Formulaic. Inconsequential. Run Fatboy Run is all of these things, a middle-of-the-road confection that isn't sure whether it wants to be a gross-out comedy, a bitter-sweet love story, or an inspirational sports tale. Schwimmer isn't the first to blame, I'm sure anyone could have easily directed this, focusing the camera on Pegg's face and capture his facial expressions is more than enough. He does that and half-succeeds at preventing the material from going too broadly over-the-top. When it does waver toward the silly, it usually fails tremendously. What screenwriters Ian Black and Pegg do inject into the proceedings is an accurately captured real-world humanity to their characters. It is this layer that keeps the film from spinning out of control or growing monotonous.
It has been five years since Dennis (Simon Pegg) ran out on pregnant fiancée Libby (Thandie Newton) on their wedding day. If time heals all wounds, then half a decade isn't enough for Dennis. Working as a security guard at a women's lingerie store and having gained a few pounds in the interim, he is an out-of-shape failure, devoted to young son Jake (Matthew Fenton) but unable to come to terms with the mistake he made in abandoning Libby. Dennis' life on the precipice is shaken when Libby introduces her seemingly perfect new American boyfriend Whit (Hank Azaria) who's health-conscious, successful, financially secure, considerate and ready for a long-term relationship. Faced with a future without Libby and Jake, Dennis makes it his mission to participate alongside him in an upcoming marathon, "The Nike River Run". "You've never finished anything in your life," a sceptical Libby tells him, but Dennis is determined this time to follow through with his goal and hopefully win over the women he still loves in the process.
Pegg never feels 100% comfortable with his role and his lines (probably 'cause they weren't written by him) but, needless to say, he's the best thing the film has to offer, proving all over again that he's not only naturally funny and charismatic but a decent actor as well. Schwimmer, as I said before, does well enough to frame his shots at Pegg and get some kind of emotion out of him. We start to believe him when he finally understands that Libby is the love of his life, as opposed to being someone he hopes to selfishly possess, and in these very small ways, we get a main character that's real enough to root for. Pegg also knows the score when he's in his element. He's fearless when it comes to the physicality of the role - the school-yard chases, the training montages or the final marathon - but is also verbally skilful enough to deliver some genuinely funny jokes.
Thankfully, Pegg doesn't get to have the only laugh here. Besides Thandie Newton, who looks like some sort of 1950s goddess, the film populates a sleazy best friend, Gordon (played by Irishman Dylan Moran, whose list of memorable characters just keeps rising and rising, including Bernard Black in the cult BritCom "Black Books", the annoying and coward David from Pegg's Shaun of the Dead and the sensational Dr. Slop from Michael Winterbottom's A Cock and Bull Story) and an ingratiating Indian landlord, Mr. Ghoshdashidar (Harish Patel) around Dennis' objective of completing the marathon. Moran is a scene-stealer by all regards. He delivers the best lines and is filled with the unpredictable, wacky comic energy that's conspicuously left restrained in the rest of the film. While a riot, Patel always stays one joke shy from being an offensively stereotype and slots in well the rest of the cast. As for Azaria, he gets the job done as the the American of the story, going from perfect to ridiculous over the film's 100 minutes.
When Run Fatboy Run gets released on DVD or finds its way to cable, watching it will, I'm sure, be a painless and enjoyable way to kill a few hours. Seeing it on the big screen, however, especially considering how excited I was about it, the film is a massive disappointment. The wit and subtlety one could expect are exchanged for site gags and easy, vulgar toilet humour. Laughs could probably be counted on one hand, and certainly do not include a strained bit involving a naked Whit in the gym locker room that just screams "Adam Sandler".
I guess the main problem was the fact that I never expected the kind of easy, American approach the film took. I guess it now makes sense, that initially it was supposed to be set in L.A. and that Simon Pegg reworked the script (as a favour to Schwimmer, if I had to wager, as the two apparently became buddies since Big Nothing, for some reason) - including by re-setting it in London - so that the film could get a release. But the whole thing still feels wrong, fake... you have a supposedly British film, made with British money and starring great British actors, and you get as a result a British farce hidden behind American clichés. Like I said, it's not necessarily Schwimmer's fault (after all, it wouldn't be the first time a yank directed a great British film. Example? Let's see... how about A Clockwork Orange?). No, the problem was the script from the start.
If Run Fatboy Run were only existing on this one level, it would be a big fiasco. Fortunately, the characters of Dennis and Libby are written with enough care and empathetic attention to detail that it doesn't matter if it's a "funny" film. Dennis, responsible for the break-up, is full of insecurity and believed at the time that he didn't deserve someone as special as Libby. Training and running in the marathon, then, is not merely a flimsy way to get Libby back, but, more important, is symbolic of his own self-worth. If he goes through with the race and manages to complete it, then maybe it'll be a sign that he's been underestimating himself all along. Dennis' journey to righting the wrongs of his past and becoming a better person is where Run Fatboy Run gets its heart, if not its innovation, and the ending is appealing in the way a hopeful denouement is reached without everything wrapping up in a neat bow.
Run Fatboy Run is a sort of strange hybrid. It often feels funny and right when Pegg, Moran and Newton are centre screen. Then we get a decent chunk of good comedy. But the film has an irremediable core of formulaic American cinema which makes it painful at times to stand. I kept wishing that the film would turn into a genius parody of romantic comedies - imagine what Edgar Wright would have been capable of with this idea - or of the triumphant sporting underdog film. But it just wants to run the straight and flat route. Which is a gigantic shame, considering the amount of talent (acting talent) involved. Were it not for those people - especially a genius, genius man called Simon Pegg - this would barely deserve to be called a 3-star, average film.
A big ,big disappointment. Simon Pegg normaly a funny and good actor, but in this movie he's more serious then in his other movies like Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the dead. I thouht this movie should be really funny becasue I've seen the trailer and it looks nice. The movie includes some funny moments but to few for me, more drama then comedy. On a rainy sunday and you don't have any thing to watch, this one maybe suits you.
well funny and serious and quite abit of dark humor too.. but so far it was good nothing too serious and nothing too funny!! and david scwimmer directing debut!!! keep doing it because it wasn't bad ok!! but it wasn't great it was ok keep doing it buddy!!
"Run, Fatboy, Run" centers on a charming but oblivious overweight guy who leaves his fiancee on their wedding day only to discover years later that he really loves her. To win her back, he must finis...( read more )h a marathon while making her realize that her handsome, wealthy fiance is the wrong guy for her.
This is not nearly as irreverent and Shaun of the Dead or Hot Fuzz. There's too much focus on cliche romantic comedy moments. It's kind of sad that the funniest scene in the movie was just the gross out stuff with the huge blister.
After the hilarious satires of 'Shaun of the Dead' and 'Hot Fuzz', Simon Pegg smothers the laughs and increases the mawkishness for his co-writen credit in 'Run, Fat Boy Run'. Pegg plays down-on-his-luck Dennis, who jilted his beautiful, pregnant bride five years ago; to win her back, he plans to run the London marathon. The main problem with this feature is that the majority of the plot development is convoluted, even the conversation unconvincingly played out by the great actors. The events that lead up to Dennis' decision to run the marathon in a bakery are poorly executed, and just plain embarassing, and the marathon running seems something of a farce. The film has a few high notes, notably Pegg and Thandie Newton, who exude a lot of charm and likeability that gives the film an emotional edge. Also, despite a lot of the jokes being crude and conventional, there is the occassional leap of wit within the script, although nothing laugh-out-loud. What 'Run Fat Boy Run' lacks is original ideas, save for the warm-hearted yet surprisingly real end sequences (after the marathon, of course). From the cliched supporting characters, to the comic gangsters, lame drama and undeveloped cameos (blink and you might actually miss Stephen Merchant), Scwhimmer never diverts the film into an energetic or entertaining area, so we are left with this mildly charming, not so-funny and ultimately forgettable rom-com. There are plenty of chances for the film to save itself, quickly make a change of course, but it never employs these oppurtunities; 'Run Fat Boy Run' has little stamina, runs out of steam far too early and isn't really worth the distance you would go to see it.
Predictable to the point that it is scary. The film strives on the average Joe losing and then wanting to win back the girl of her dreams. The true enemy that is stopping him from getting the girl back is himself. But, just to make things easier, the enemy is personalified by Hank Azaria. That is a lame ass stunt that the film pulls.
Really very funny with amazing acting and a good cast. It was really funny when he got the blister and the other guy popped it and got all the puss in his face. That was the funniest part!
The experience of going to see this movie was almost better than the movie. If you want details, feel free to message me and I'll convey the silly details.
I love Edgar Wright movies. Shawn of the Dead and Hot Fuzz were some of my favorite releases of the past few years. This, unfortunately, is not an Edgar Wright movie. this is a David Schwimmer movie. That's right. Ross from Friends directed this. He didn't do a bad job, but it just kind of lacked teh substance. This movie falls into the "cute" category.
The real perks of this movie are Simon Pegg and MIchael Ian Black. It doesn't really feel like an outright Michael Ian Black movie just because it is mighty restrained. But it definitely is funny. Honstly, (and this isn't a complete slam) this movie feels a lot like Big Daddy. You get your laughs and you have a good time, but once you get home. that's probably the last you'll ever really deal with the movie. People honestly tore this movie a new one and I honestly don't know why. this seems to be a fairly accessible, light-hearted comedy that has a lot of fun laughs.
I really like the guy from Black Books. He was David from Shawn, but he played the straight man of the story. In fact, he was a complete douchebaggy character in that one so it was fun to see him as the silly sidekick character. Sure, you get to see a LOT of his ass in that one, but that comes with the territory of silly sidekick. It was weird to see Hank Azaria take the part of the douchey straightman. I also had no idea that he was that ripped.
The one thing I will point out is that I could never see Thandie Newton with Simon Pegg unless Simon Pegg was REALLY Simon Pegg. What I'm saying is that his character plays a strip mall security cop who is out of shape and irresponsible. Really? Hot bakery girl with that guy? Nah. But he does need something to overcome at the end and it's very heroic. Too bad I saw Jay Sherman, TV's forgotten animated Critic, do the same thing first. Ah well, who am I to complain? I had a good time. Not "own the movie" good time. But a good time.
ok this is not Simon Pegg on full form but although he was a git and jilted his pregnant missis at the altar u cant help but still hope that his character will et the girl back at the end of the film
"That was the second most disgusting fluid ive ever had in my eye!"
hahahah this movie was rediculous! So funny, Simon Pegg is just absolutely hilarious. This was directed by David Shwimmer who proves that he does great when working with Simon, just look at Big Nothing now that movie was awesome!
Ok basically if your a fan of Simon Pegg then you will fall in love with this movie, its just great.
When i really love a movie then its hard for me to write a review because theres nothing to say other than SEE IT!!!
Its very funny, an original comedy, great cast, great story. CHECK IT OUT!
MCT:June 7, 2008
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