Run, Fatboy, Run
Directed by: David Schwimmer
Written by: Michael Ian Black, Simon Pegg
Starring: Simon Pegg, Thandie Newton, Hank Azaria, Dylan Moran, Harish Patel

Note: This a repost of my original review from September 2007.

After the success of Spaced, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, Simon Pegg has become a pretty big comedic hit not only in the U.K., but also in North America as well. The thing is, up until this point his following has consisted primarily of fanboys, geeks and college students. While some people can make a comfortable living catering to this demographic for their entire career, it takes some forays into slightly more broad comedy to become a bona fide movie star. Not everyone is cut out for mainstream comedy, but with this movie Pegg has proven that he can definitely win over the masses without having to compromise himself.

I’ll lay the cards on the table right now — this movie is a romantic comedy. Specifically, it’s an American production but it’s loaded with British talent. There’s nary a zombie to be found, and Pegg’s regular cohorts Nick Frost and Edgar Wright are not involved either. Instead he is supported by Thandie Newton and Hank Azaria of all people, and behind the camera we’ve got former Friends star David Schwimmer. It may seem like an odd combination, but Schwimmer previously directed a small comedy starring Pegg called Big Nothing.

Personally I’ve always felt that Schwimmer was the only “Friend” who actually had some comedic talent outside of his written dialogue, and he has directed episodes of the show before too, so don’t write it off if for some reason you happen to have it out for Ross. With Run Fatboy Run, Schwimmer has proven himself a competent and promising filmmaker, giving us something that manages to rise above the typical rom-com dreck. Of course, a large portion of the credit must also go to Pegg, who co-wrote the screenplay and carries the majority of the laughs (although Dylan Moran also steals some scenes and meshes well with him as the drunkard/compulsive gambler).

The premise is a pretty simple one, and I’ll admit that it doesn’t sound overly compelling. Pegg’s character knocks up Thandie Newton, and so a wedding is quickly arranged, but when the day actually comes he gets cold feet and leaves her hanging, pregnant, at the altar. Five years later, he is still a part of her life, helping to raise their son, but he lives on his own in a tiny basement apartment and works as a security guard at a ladies clothing store. Meanwhile, she has started dating again, and her new boyfriend (Hank Azaria) is pretty much perfect in every way. He’s rich, handsome, and he runs marathons for charity. When Pegg suddenly realizes that he’s a loser and on the verge of losing his girl for good, he decides it’s time to enter a marathon himself.

The resulting journey is not as cliched as you might expect, and despite the familiar circumstances it manages to take a few unpredictable turns. The marathon becomes more of a personal challenge for him than a quest to win back the girl, and towards the final act of the film it kind of morphs into an underdog sports dramedy (if such a thing is possible). Friends are wagering on whether or not he will actually complete the race, and it all builds to an emotional (well, okay, slightly sappy) finale.

Although the movie is not the funniest thing I’ve seen this year, it does deliver laughs from all angles including physical comedy, gross out humour, and clever dialogue. The point is, Simon Pegg is comfortable with just about anything you throw at him, and he’s a very charismatic guy. There are certainly enough worthwhile jokes here to please Pegg’s current fanbase, although I’m willing to bet this will earn him many new fans as well. Hank Azaria certainly deserves mention as “the other man”, someone whom we’re meant to hate, but who flips back and forth between good guy and bad guy with ease.

Run Fatboy Run is a truly uplifting story, and a fun piece of fluff that consistently entertains despite its dubious pedigree. It’s like a Hugh Grant film with balls (albeit rather chafed ones) and it has a cracking good soundtrack to cap it all off. Ultimately I’m not sure if it feels too British for North American audiences to fully embrace it (it does take place in London after all), but that could also be seen as a strength because it feels a bit different than the rom-coms we’re used to seeing. The bottom line is that this could be a big break for both Simon Pegg and David Schwimmer at this point in their respective careers (as if they needed one), and I came away from this movie quite pleasantly surprised. — Sean

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