The loneliness of a long-distance
runner
This
is one movie that hasn’t got the most appealing title. Run,
Fat Boy, Run sounds like an episode of The Biggest Loser.
However, once in a while an unpretentious title pops up at a preview
without a fanfare of publicity and manages to brighten your evening.
This film is one such. It’s typical light British comedy,
spawned by their better TV shows as some members of the cast can
testify.
There’s Dylan Moran from Black Books
extending the characterization of the likable drunk Irish whack
job as if the part was made for him as it may well have been.
Also given a cameo role David Walliams of Little Britain
appears in a recognizable routine. As the lead, Simon Pegg provides
a good balance of physical and verbal humour with a more sympathetic
persona than some of his past work in Hot Fuzz and Shaun
of the Dead. Pegg has those rubber features of Rowan Atkinson,
distorting his face into comic proportions at a moment’s
notice, which he does to advantage.
Dennis (Simon Pegg), a typically lazy slob, is dead
frightened of going to the altar. As the film opens we see him
literally run off leaving his pregnant bride to be Libby (Thandie
Newton) at the church door. Six years later, employed as a security
guard in a lingerie shop, he now finds he truly loves Libby, but
she has taken up with wealthy and super healthy Whit (Hank Azaria),
an American who runs marathons in his spare time.
In a vain attempt to win back Libby and his 5 year
old son’s affection, the seriously unfit Dennis foolhardily
enters the London Marathon in order to compete with his rival.
Battling all kinds of adversity - including a blister the size
of Big Ben in a particularly gross scene - and accepting dubious
aid from his friend Gordon (Dylan Moran) who’s naturally
no use whatever.
The
results are predictable but there’s some fun getting there.
Amusing sideline sequences are provided by Harish Patel as the
lugubrious Mr. Ghoshdashtidar, and Ameet Chana as a taxi driver.
Plus there is memorable sequence in the lingerie shop window with
Dennis and mannequin. Dennis has an endearing side and you feel
for him as he struggles to finish his footslogging race to redemption.
David Schwimmer, better known as Dr. Ross Geller
in Friends, makes this his feature film directing debut.
One senses a certain TV style about the production, as you might
expect. Michael Ian Black co-wrote the script with Simon Pegg,
and they certainly try to make the most of their material. Fortunately
Schwimmer maintains a balance of poignancy against the facetious
humour and sometimes crude gags. Laurels go to Simon Pegg whose
excellent timing and natural style give a surprising depth to
his character.
While the supporting cast do their stuff, without
Pegg the rather thin story could collapse on itself. I’m
not claiming Run, Fat Boy, Run to be the comedy of the
year, but if you like the kind of TV farce that originates in
the British Isles, you’ll find it entertaining. Those who
laughed at Death at a Funeral should get plenty of fun
out of Dennis on his ill-advised run to glory.
John Bale
