Run, Fat Boy, Run
Director: David Schwimmer
Rating: M15+
Now screening


One look at the cast list is enough to convince most people that 'Run, Fat Boy Run' is going to be a laugh riot. Alongside Hank Azaria, the movie dips into the Holy Grail of English comedians and pulls out Simon Pegg and Dylan Moran, leaving it just a Ricky Gervais short of a perfect hand. Schwimmer's directorial debut, however, falls short of the hilarity of the team's past leading roles and outings.

Pegg plays Dennis, a man who ran out on his pregnant fiance, Libby (Thandie Newton) on their wedding day. Cut to five years later, Dennis, still in love with Libby, realises that he has missed his chance with Libby, now dating snobby businessman Whit (Azaria). In an attempt to prove his worth to his ex-fiance and son, Dennis plans to enter the London Marathon, putting himself against fitness-enthusiast Whit, with a little help from his best friend Gordon (Moran) and landlord Mr Ghoshdashtidar (Harish Patel). It's a very simple, straightforward tale- in writing this synopsis, I'm about ten words short of spoiling the entire story.

In terms of comedy, it sort of delivers, even if it's never splitting sides. Moran is given the best of the jokes, but even they tend to amount to simple but effective physical gags. The characters are as cliched as they come - Dennis is the likeable, flawed comic hero, Whit is a twat, Thandie is smart, sexy and likeable, and... well you should be able to fill in the rest of the blanks yourself. There's a sports movie element to it as well, as Dennis trains to run the marathon against his nemesis, getting fit in the process. It's just about inspirational enough to make you stop and think before picking up McDonalds on the way home, but beyond that it won't stick in your mind.

So what we have here is a formulaic sports romantic comedy that doesn't utilize the stunning talent on display, but manages to just - if I may make an awful pun- scrape over the line in the middle of the pack. It displays just enough heart and just enough laughs to qualify as 'watchable', but it's no 'Hot Fuzz'.

James O'Connor