Sunday, March 30, 2008
A+E, Movies, Reviews

Romantic comedy ‘Fatboy’ goes the distance

Short review of "Run, Fatboy, Run"

CREDIT: Courtesy of Picturehouse
Simon Pegg in “Run Fatboy Run”

“RUN FATBOY RUN”
Simon Pegg, Thandie Newton
Directed by David Schwimmer
Rated PG-13
Wide release

No woman really wants to marry “Peter Perfect,” according to the myth perpetuated by movies that hope to do a volume business by selling tickets to ordinary guys. That’s why there’s a market for pictures like “Run Fatboy Run.” As fantasies go, it makes “Horton Hears a Who!” look like a documentary.

Security guard Dennis Doyle (Simon Pegg of “Hot Fuzz” and “Shaun of the Dead”) isn’t fat—he just has a small spare tire. Director David Schwimmer doesn’t want to stack the deck against him too much as he tries to win back Libby (Thandie Newton), the mother of his child, who he left at the altar five years ago. She’s allowed him to take part in raising their son, Jake (Matthew Festoon), but maintains her emotional distance.

He might never be ready if not for learning that Libby (who owns her own bakery, Libby’s Nice Buns), is seeing Whit (Hank Azaria), a handsome, affable American with a good job in the financial district. The topper? Whit’s a marathon runner. Dennis resolves to impress Libby by entering the next marathon, which is only three weeks away. He’s coached by Libby’s cousin Gordon (Dylan Moran), and Dennis’ widowed landlord, Mr. Goshdashtidar (Harish Patel).

“Rub Fatboy Run” has some priceless one-liners, but once the marathon gets underway, the movie runs on too long, even throwing in a superfluous final scene following the perfect ending. Still, Schwimmer (“Friends”), making his big-screen directorial debut, shows he’s mastered the fundamentals of creating a crowd-pleaser. 3 STARS—Steve Warren