Starring: Simon Pegg, Thandie Newton, Hank Azaria, Matthew Fenton, Dylan Moran, Hairsh Patel
Directed By: David Schwimmer
Written By: Michael Ian Black, Simon Pegg
Released: 2008
Grade: B
Run Fatboy Run is David Schwimmer’s directorial debut, aside from some TV work. This was an impressive first attempt in directing a film, yet I also believe Schwimmer can go farther. Run Fatboy Run shows his potential, I would like to see him challenge that potential now. Schwimmer was blessed to have a solid, entertaining and overall enjoyable script from the smart and witty, Michael Ian Black and Simon Pegg, who is also the star of the film. This also benefits the film immensely since a lot of the movie and particularly his character came from his own mind, so he is able to bring him out and the overall charm of the film all the better.
Dennis (Pegg) left his pregnant fiancé, Libby (Newton), at the alter. Dennis was just so overwhelmed and scared out of his mind of commitment and being a family man that he simply sprinted out of the church, leaving Libby screaming for him, but ultimately abandoned. Years later, Dennis is still part of his son, Jake’s (Fenton) life. Jake looks up to him a lot and is very caring and open with him. Although, he is a decent father to Jake, he still really hasn’t completely grown up and taken responsibility for the things in his life that he has been neglecting. Dennis still loves Libby, but it isn’t until he realizes that she has a new boyfriend who seems very impressive that he tries to make some changes. Dennis tries to do everything right with Jake and just tries to look more impressive than Libby’s boyfriend, Whit (Hank Azaria). Dennis continues screwing up and after spending some time with Whit, he realizes that he has some hefty competition. Whit is a businessman while Dennis is a women’s clothing store security guard. Whit even nearly takes away the father card from Dennis as Libby thinks that he is great with Jake and all around a great person. Also, Whit runs a marathon for charity every year, making him seem caring, strong, and sensitive.
To try to stay in the race, Dennis, decides that he is going to run in the marathon too. The
marathon is in three weeks though and he was supposed to register over two months ago. Luckily, he has a few people helping him out. His good friend, Gordon (Moran), bet a lot of money towards Dennis successfully finishing the marathon so he decides that he will coach Dennis in his training. Also, Dennis’ landlord that Dennis owes a lot of money to decides to help out as the assistant coach. Dennis’ only chance of being able to get registered at this point is if he is running for a charity and it can’t be any organization that already has a representative running. They try to invent a disease, but that backfires. Instead, they find someone who was planning on running but has to back out since he gets injured. So Dennis ends up running for erectile dysfunction. Dennis continues training and trying to get in good with Libby, continuing to try to be there as much as he can for Jake. Libby sees that he is just trying to compete with Whit and that it won’t impress her. Dennis wonders if all this is for nothing, but then as he listens to everyone’s belief that he will fail he remembers everything in his life that has gone unfinished, and decides he has to make an honest effort for this to be different.
The acting was one of the best aspects of the film and really made the film more enjoyable to watch. Simon Pegg really carries this film as he did in Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz even though Run Fatboy Run is not quite as good as either of these films. We are given a lot of reason not to like Dennis as a character. He is very selfish not being there for the mother of his child and then later deciding he wants to be years after and only because someone else is taking responsibility like he was unable to. He is not particularly ambitious at first anyway, although what he is doing does turn out being for himself. Still, Pegg puts forth great charisma and likeability that forces us to see his character through a different set of eyes and although we still know he is flawed, we still care about him and really want to see things end well for him. Thandie Newton does well although most of her scenes are pushing Dennis away. It would have been nice to see her dealing with some different situations so we could see more of her character and Newton’s range as an actress. Hank Azaria seems like a very ideal husband, yet always has that sly attitude to him that unveils more and more as the film goes on. He was able to tackle the artificial character type and almost make it seem genuine, as well as the more mean spirited side of him. Matthew Fenton as Jake has a big personality and is pretty adorable, working wonderfully with Pegg, giving us some genuine father-son scenes that make us cheer for Dennis more. Harish Patel as the sometimes violent, but overall very motivating and kindhearted landlord/ assistant trainer was very funny. He really hit all the right spots and his comedy makes him offbeat yet strangely loveable at the same time.
Run Fatboy Run is a very simple story, there are no real surprises through out the film. It is an underdog story and a journey to win back the girl who has slipped away. The most appealing element of the story though is the realization of the duty you have to yourself to prove others wrong and more importantly to prove to yourself that you can accomplish your goals. The characters are fun, but some are flawed and not particularly complex. The dialogue is very entertaining, quick, and very funny. The small flaws are easily forgotten about and the audience is able to just have a good time with the film. It is no doubt that the sharp dialogue along with some awkward situations and particularly the likeability and commitment of the cast exerts this even more with Schwimmer’s appealing direction, keeping the film light and enjoyable.
Directed By: David Schwimmer
Written By: Michael Ian Black, Simon Pegg
Released: 2008
Grade: B
Run Fatboy Run is David Schwimmer’s directorial debut, aside from some TV work. This was an impressive first attempt in directing a film, yet I also believe Schwimmer can go farther. Run Fatboy Run shows his potential, I would like to see him challenge that potential now. Schwimmer was blessed to have a solid, entertaining and overall enjoyable script from the smart and witty, Michael Ian Black and Simon Pegg, who is also the star of the film. This also benefits the film immensely since a lot of the movie and particularly his character came from his own mind, so he is able to bring him out and the overall charm of the film all the better.
Dennis (Pegg) left his pregnant fiancé, Libby (Newton), at the alter. Dennis was just so overwhelmed and scared out of his mind of commitment and being a family man that he simply sprinted out of the church, leaving Libby screaming for him, but ultimately abandoned. Years later, Dennis is still part of his son, Jake’s (Fenton) life. Jake looks up to him a lot and is very caring and open with him. Although, he is a decent father to Jake, he still really hasn’t completely grown up and taken responsibility for the things in his life that he has been neglecting. Dennis still loves Libby, but it isn’t until he realizes that she has a new boyfriend who seems very impressive that he tries to make some changes. Dennis tries to do everything right with Jake and just tries to look more impressive than Libby’s boyfriend, Whit (Hank Azaria). Dennis continues screwing up and after spending some time with Whit, he realizes that he has some hefty competition. Whit is a businessman while Dennis is a women’s clothing store security guard. Whit even nearly takes away the father card from Dennis as Libby thinks that he is great with Jake and all around a great person. Also, Whit runs a marathon for charity every year, making him seem caring, strong, and sensitive.
To try to stay in the race, Dennis, decides that he is going to run in the marathon too. The
marathon is in three weeks though and he was supposed to register over two months ago. Luckily, he has a few people helping him out. His good friend, Gordon (Moran), bet a lot of money towards Dennis successfully finishing the marathon so he decides that he will coach Dennis in his training. Also, Dennis’ landlord that Dennis owes a lot of money to decides to help out as the assistant coach. Dennis’ only chance of being able to get registered at this point is if he is running for a charity and it can’t be any organization that already has a representative running. They try to invent a disease, but that backfires. Instead, they find someone who was planning on running but has to back out since he gets injured. So Dennis ends up running for erectile dysfunction. Dennis continues training and trying to get in good with Libby, continuing to try to be there as much as he can for Jake. Libby sees that he is just trying to compete with Whit and that it won’t impress her. Dennis wonders if all this is for nothing, but then as he listens to everyone’s belief that he will fail he remembers everything in his life that has gone unfinished, and decides he has to make an honest effort for this to be different.
The acting was one of the best aspects of the film and really made the film more enjoyable to watch. Simon Pegg really carries this film as he did in Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz even though Run Fatboy Run is not quite as good as either of these films. We are given a lot of reason not to like Dennis as a character. He is very selfish not being there for the mother of his child and then later deciding he wants to be years after and only because someone else is taking responsibility like he was unable to. He is not particularly ambitious at first anyway, although what he is doing does turn out being for himself. Still, Pegg puts forth great charisma and likeability that forces us to see his character through a different set of eyes and although we still know he is flawed, we still care about him and really want to see things end well for him. Thandie Newton does well although most of her scenes are pushing Dennis away. It would have been nice to see her dealing with some different situations so we could see more of her character and Newton’s range as an actress. Hank Azaria seems like a very ideal husband, yet always has that sly attitude to him that unveils more and more as the film goes on. He was able to tackle the artificial character type and almost make it seem genuine, as well as the more mean spirited side of him. Matthew Fenton as Jake has a big personality and is pretty adorable, working wonderfully with Pegg, giving us some genuine father-son scenes that make us cheer for Dennis more. Harish Patel as the sometimes violent, but overall very motivating and kindhearted landlord/ assistant trainer was very funny. He really hit all the right spots and his comedy makes him offbeat yet strangely loveable at the same time. Run Fatboy Run is a very simple story, there are no real surprises through out the film. It is an underdog story and a journey to win back the girl who has slipped away. The most appealing element of the story though is the realization of the duty you have to yourself to prove others wrong and more importantly to prove to yourself that you can accomplish your goals. The characters are fun, but some are flawed and not particularly complex. The dialogue is very entertaining, quick, and very funny. The small flaws are easily forgotten about and the audience is able to just have a good time with the film. It is no doubt that the sharp dialogue along with some awkward situations and particularly the likeability and commitment of the cast exerts this even more with Schwimmer’s appealing direction, keeping the film light and enjoyable.
This film was a lot of fun.
Very good review.