craveonline

By Jeremy Azevedo

If you go into “Run Fat Boy Run” expecting it to be anything like Simon Pegg’s previous films, “Shaun of the Dead” or “Hot Fuzz”, prepare to be sorely disappointed. First of all, there’s no Edgar Wright, Simon’s tubbier sidekick, Second of all, Run Fat Boy Run was directed by David Schwimmer, who everyone knows is a nerd.

However, the script was written by “The State” alum Michael Ian Black, so that’s a comfort. But it’s about a fat guy that isn’t even really all that fat, which is sorta weird. There are a lot of expectations one might have going into this film, so it’s best if you just sort of let all that go and try and enjoy the picture for what it is: a charming comedy that tells a pretty ordinary story under the guise of an extraordinary premise.

Wait, did I just use the word “charming” in a review? I’m afraid so. The thing about this movie is, about the time you realize that this is ultimately a pretty formulaic film, you also realize that this isn’t always such a bad thing to be. And because of the strength of the cast, what might otherwise come across as cheesy is somehow disarmingly endearing. Much of the credit for this has to be given to Simon Pegg. He is such an “everyman” that virtually anyone can see them self in his position. He’s not too dorky, or too cool, or too good looking, he’s just a really average guy with pretty significant comedic acting chops that can convey a lot by doing very little.


Simon Pegg and his odd-sized nostrils.

The plot of Run Fat Boy Run is basically the old “why don’t you run toward something in life instead of always running away from it” story. Hank Azaria plays an epic villain, standing smugly in the way of the lead character as he tries to get his life back in order and win back his long lost baby mama. The thing that makes the film so amusing though is how half assed the main character, Dennis, is about the competition. You sort of expect him to be ripped into fighting shape at the end of some crappy training montage, but the dues ex machina never clicks into place and he continues drinking, smoking, and bumbling throughout the picture. This honest character portrayal makes Run Fat Boy Run quite a bit more relatable than it would have been if Dennis had undergone a complete transformation, something that would have been way out of character for him.

Ultimately this is a comedy about a man’s will to persevere in life against all odds, despite his limitations, and push forward past the point at which he would normally give up in order to achieve his goals. This might have come across funnier had the main character been cast as a mug like Will Ferrell or Jack Black, but with Simon Pegg at the forefront it’s almost inspiring. Not that you should look to comedic pictures for life lessons or anything, but for a longtime cynic like myself, it’s remarkable that this came through at all.

7 out of 10 stars.