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Film Review: Run Fatboy Run |
1and1 Promo Code
| "I'd crush Thandie Newton like a candy crouton..."-- MC Paul Barman
This was originally posted at FilmArcade, which I would have linked if the internet wasn't being all Hitler about linking right now, but please visit FilmArcade(dot)net when you get a chance and go back frequently to see me, my brothers and sisters talk about all things film.Thanks.And no, this is not my autobiography.Ha ha.Very funny.But Forgetting Sarah Marshall just might be.But more on that later...Run Fatboy Run (2008)Directed by David SchwimmerStarring:Simon PeggThandie NewtonHank AzariaDylan MoranHarish PatelMatthew FentonWho would have thought that Simon Pegg would follow up Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz with a film directed by David Schwimmer and written by cult comedian Michael Ian Black (along with Pegg himself)?If this were ten years ago, I would be even more skeptical, but after seeing Schwimmer perform admirably on Curb Your Enthusiasm and staying away from the spotlight over the past few years, I actually was pretty excited to see his name show up when I heard about this film and while this film was quite enjoyable and undeniably funny almost throughout, I could see ol' David stepping it up even more next time around.Simon Pegg carries the film almost single-handedly, as usual.At the beginning of the film, his commitment-phobic character leaves a pregnant Thandie Newton (cute as ever, but often ineffective and/or misused) at the altar and seemingly never stops running.Figuratively, anyway.Cut to about 5 years later and the pathetic, out of shape, down-on-his-luck Pegg is working as a security guard for a lingerie store at a local mall.He is very close with his son (the fabulous young actor Matthew Fenton) and still longs to be with his ex, but he has given up on himself almost as much as Newton has, which all but forces Newton to get on with her life, which Pegg finds out soon, is exactly what she has begun to do.Only when he finds out that she has massively upgraded (on paper) to Hank Azaria, does he decide to start getting his shit together.Thinking somewhat irrationally, he commits to running in the same marathon as the fit (and don't you just know it) Azaria.At first, he does it for almost all the wrong reasons, but eventually he ends up wanting to do it for himself and for his best bud (played superbly by Dylan Moran, who I can't wait to see more of) Gordon, who has bet his gambling debts (and then some) on his pal finishing the race.It's a simple premise, with predictable set-ups and results, but the breezy pace of the film makes for a cozy, lighthearted movie that'll be perfect for Sunday morning hangovers.All the lead players are serviceable-to-great, but there are some pleasant surprises from odd sources.Harish Patel, who plays Pegg's landlord is an effervescent joy.He doesn't act or deliver his lines particularly well, but he does both so passionately, that you can't help but fall in love with his puffy face.And Peter Serafinowicz, who plays a tv commentator who is following Pegg in the marathon and becomes so enraptured with his story that he can no logner be impartial, is simply awesome.Azaria grew on me infinitely over the years thanks to his parts in Mystery Men and the Birdcage among others, but I thought he could have been so much better here.It was as if Schwimmer told him to not be too funny, although the scene where he reveals his man parts to Pegg (which apparently was balls-out real--sorry, I had to--and unbeknownst to Pegg) is eternally memorable and priceless.The only major problem I had with the movie was not entirely their fault and says more about the industry, but c'mon now, does every film have to have its title placed into the dialogue somewhere?Enough with this, already!While it's awfully formulaic at times and also a bit uneven, the simple, sweet heart at the core saves it and makes Run Fat Boy Run an overall enjoyable viewing experience. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 17 July 2008 )
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