Run Fatboy Run sprints home

Everybody knows what sells out theaters across the nation: tight spandex that hugs and exposes the curves of the body. Let’s not forget those superstars who don short shorts and tight shirts. Movies give people the glamorous side of life too: expensive suits and fancy parties. Unfortunately, this film showed only a portly 30-some-year-old man wearing these little scraps of clothing, and by the time he put on a suit, it was too late to forget the preceding image.

After shaking off those nauseating scenes, the movie realizes its goal, not as a comedy, but as a strong story about love and family.  This was surprising because the previews portrayed much more of a juvenile funny movie than a movie with actual plot and emotions involved. The moments of juvenile humor in the movie produced no laughs, but perhaps that was for the best because it would have became a distraction to the actual film.

The film is about a man named Dennis, played by Simon Pegg, who foolishly left his pregnant fiancée at the altar years ago. Libby, played by Thandie Newton, is his ex and the mother of his child Jake who live in London. Dennis has plenty of visitation righst to see Jake, that is if he can remember to be on time to pick him up.  A rare feat for Dennis who has trouble committing, being reliable and finishing things he started.

As if Dennis’ life living in the basement of his large Indian landowner Mr. Ghoshdashtidar was not bad enough, Libby has become involved with Whit. Hank Azaria plays Whit, who is everything that Dennis is not, responsible, reliable, wealthy and most strikingly of all: fit. Dennis soon realizes that his love for Libby has not faded and begins to struggle to keep Whit from getting both Libby and his son Jake. The battlefield eventually becomes a city marathon, which Dennis decides would be the perfect way to show he can be responsible and finish something that he started. Mr. Ghoshdashtidar and Dennis’ friend Gordon help him train to prove Libby that he can be good enough for her.

This movie, which was advertised as a comedy, was as good as the previews would have lead you to believe. Except it was not an interesting movie because it was funny, but because the whole concept of rooting for the average Joe over the tight suit, baby powder wearing man was appealing. Director David Schwimmer, whom we all remember from Friends, did a surprisingly good job of extracting the human emotions out of this very quirky plotline.

Simon Pegg did his part to help the movie and as his career continues to grow from obscurity to just slightly less obscure. Pegg has starred in other comedies such as Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and Big Nothing (where he started along side David Schwimmer). Watching this film was much like watching Will Ferrell star in Stranger than Fiction after seeing him in countless comedic roles. Pegg has been in many films where great acting is not required, but in this more serious role he prevailed as an actual father figure in a serious role. While I do not expect to see Pegg nominated for Oscar, for a B type film, he will do just fine (Hollywood likes the glitz and glamour in its A movies, Simon Pegg is much more of a grits kind of guy).

Thandie Newton and Hank Azaria also star in the film. Both Newton and Azaria tend to be very selective in their work, but whenever they do show up on the screen, they are delightful to watch. Dylan Moran, who has had minor roles in such England set films as Notting Hill and Shaun of the Dead, provides most of the laughs as the quirky trainer/friend who appears trouser less far too many times in the film.

I decided to give this film a solid B because it does not try to do too much. Schwimmer directed a film with an interesting style, a good message and a classic premise with a quirky plot.

Run Fatboy Run is 100 minutes long and is rated PG-13 for some rude and sexual humor, nudity, language and smoking.