Run, Fat Boy, Run (2007)

Simon Pegg has now been in a number of films, and impressively a number of these have gained enough popularity in England to create a buzz in the US. A co-worker suggested this film to me when they learned that I had run several marathons so I thought it was worth a shot. It is actually directed by David Schwimmer [Ross from Friends], who has directed 4 tv movies, 10 episodes of Friends, and a couple episodes of the spin-off Joey. However, this was his first feature film.

Simon Pegg plays Dennis, who runs away from his pregnant fiancee, Libby [Thandie Newton], on their wedding day. Five years later he is a loser who still has feelings for Libby but can't seem to even take care of himself. When Libby gets a new boyfriend Whit [Hank Azaria, known for his many, many, many voices on The Simpsons], who is successful and runs marathons, he decides to prove his love by running a marathon also.

The film is mainly a comedy, but could be called a romantic comedy. There are many elements that felt like a tv sitcom to me, which makes sense to me because this has been the director's background. So if you know what you are getting yourself into, you might like it. There are better Pegg films, and coming from a running I didn't find the marathon portion to be anything special like I was hoping.

Vote: 6/10

IMDB Link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425413/

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