... Most of them didn't appeal but when I saw that Run, Fatboy, Run was on the list, I remembered seeing funny trailers on the television for it, and decided that it was going to be the next film I'd see. My fiance didn't want to watch it, but I eventually persuaded him to, so the two of us sat ... Read review
Five years ago Dennis (Simon Pegg) was at the altar, about to marry Libby (Thandie Newton) ... more
his pregnant fiancee. He got cold feet and ran for the hills and he's been going in circles ever since. When Dennis discovers Libby's hooked up with high-flying-go-getter Whit (Hank Azaria) he realises it's not now or never. He enters a marathon to show he's more than a quitter, but then finds out just how much sweat, strain and tears it takes to change. Nobody gives him a chance but Dennis knows this is his only hope to be more than a running joke...
Five years ago Dennis (Simon Pegg) was at the altar, about to marry Libby (Thandie Newton) ... more
his pregnant fiancee. He got cold feet and ran for the hills and he's been going in circles ever since. When Dennis discovers Libby's hooked up with high-flying-go-getter Whit (Hank Azaria) he realises it's now or never. He enters a marathon to show he's more than a quitter, but then he finds out just how much sweat, strain and tears it takes to change. Nobody gives him a chance but Dennis knows this is his only hope to be more than a running joke...
Love. Commitment. Responsibility. There's nothing he can't run away from... Run Fat Boy ... more
Run centers on a charming but oblivious overweight guy who leaves his fiancee on their wedding day only to discover years later that he really loves her. To win her back he must finish a marathon while making her realize that her handsome wealthy fiance is the wrong guy for her.
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Nice Work If You Can Get It -Bing Crosby Radio Song - Dirty Pretty Things I Like That - ... more
Air Traffic Queen Bitch - David Bowie Something Kinda Ooooh - Girls Aloud Chelsea Dagger - Fratellis Beach Samba - Astrud Gilberto Girls And Boys In Love - Rumble Strips 54 46 Was My Number - Toots & The Maytals Story Problem - Envy Corps Ghetto Love - Macy Gray Magic Position - Patrick Wolf Better - Tom Baxter Everyday I Love You Less And Less - Kaiser Chiefs Concept - Teenage Fanclub Monkey Man - Amy Winehouse Keep On Running - Goldspot
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Comedy - Director: Tony Dow - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: John Challis, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst, Tessa Peake-Jones, Gwyneth Strong
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Advantages: Simon Pegg, great cast, direction is fantastic, scenes of London Disadvantages: The blister scene was gross!
...but when I saw that Run, Fatboy, Run was on the list, I remembered seeing funny trailers on the television for it, and decided that it was going to be the next film I'd see. My fiance didn't want to watch it, but I eventually persuaded him to, so the two of us sat together to watch last weekend.
Dennis Doyle is all set to marry his pregnant fiancee Libby, but gets cold feet at the last minute and runs off, telling everyone he isn't ... ...a security guard, visiting his five year old son Jake, and living with his landlord Mr Ghoshdashdidar. But when Dennis discovers Libby has a new boyfriend in the way of swanky American Whit, he decides he has to win Libby back, and enters the Nike marathon that Whit is running in. But Dennis has never stuck at anything - will he run the race? And more importantly - will he finish and win back Libby?
Once again, I had run out of films to watch on my DVD rentals service, so I decided that I'd sit there for a while and look at all the recommendations they were giving me. Most of them didn't appeal but when I saw that Run, Fatboy, Run was on the list, I remembered seeing funny trailers on the television for it, and decided that it was going to be the next film I'd see. My fiance didn't want to watch it, but I eventually persuaded him to, so the two of us sat together to watch last weekend.
Dennis Doyle is all set to marry his pregnant fiancee Libby, but gets cold feet at the last minute and runs off, telling everyone he isn't ready for marriage. Five years later, Dennis is working as a security guard, visiting his five year old son Jake, and living with his landlord Mr Ghoshdashdidar. But when Dennis discovers Libby has a new boyfriend in the way of swanky American Whit, he decides he has to win Libby back, and enters the Nike marathon that Whit is running in. But Dennis has never stuck at anything - will he run the race? And more importantly - will he finish and win back Libby?
Right from the first few minutes of the film, I knew it was going to be incredibly funny, as both my fiance and I were laughing out loud at the first few scenes. It really is a typical modern British film, with a fantastic all English cast (bar one of course), and David Schwimmer (Ross in Friends) has done a fantastic job with this film in his first major go at being Director. The comedy moments keep on coming throughout the film, and aren't just limited to the bits in the trailer, which is always a worry with comedy films. The film is shot in London, and Schwimmer has really captured London's image and essence beautifully, with some great aerial shots and location choices.
The cast were simply fantastic, led by the superbly hilarious Simon Pegg who plays loser Dennis. Pegg has this comedy quality which just makes me smile the whole time he is on screen, and he portrays dopey Dennis fantastically, giving him false confidence yet you can sense a softer side towards Libby in his performance. He is great with Thandie Newton who plays Libby, but his best scenes in the film are with Harish Patel who plays the hilarious landlord Mr Ghoshdashdidar, and Dylan Moran who plays his best mate Gordon. Pegg seems to click with everyone he works with on screen, and pulls off dead pan comedy just perfectly.
Patel and Moran have a good amount of on screen time, and are perfectly hilarious as Dennis' coaches in preparing him for the marathon. Moran, in particular, is fantastic as Gordon, and a scene involving a blister in the film is one of his and Pegg's best - hilarious yet absolutely disgusting! Newton is lovely as gentle English lady Libby who obviously resents Dennis but still can't help but feel something toward him. And Hank Azaria is brilliantly cast as Whit, Libby's new beau who is fiercly competitive and wants to ensure Dennis won't finish the race.
I wasn't really sure what to expect from this film, but I was given a lot of laughs, and a great storyline. As I said, the cast have been chosen perfectly, with a real eclectic group of people that create maginificent comedy on-screen, and Schwimmer has done a great job with directing this movie, with a load of British humour in there too. Schwimmer clearly has the knack for comedy, and comedy timing and this comes across throughout the entire film - there wasn't long between laughs and they were all perfectly done as well.
The scenes involving the marathon were all very well done, as marathons are somewhat of an important institution in England, and the filmmakers have been careful not to ridicule the idea of a marathon. Olympic gold medal winner Denise Lewis features briefly in the film as commentator, adding some realism to the scenes, and the crowd scenes are great, making the marathon highly believable. This is where the nature of the film changes slightly - it goes from being somewhat ridiculous comedy to a more serious plot, but this really does work. Dennis really transforms as a character right up until the end, and even I had a tear in my eye right near the end. It's superbly done, and is great to watch.
Pegg really does carry this film by himself for the entire length of the film, pulling off the gags with perfection and such great comedy acting you just can't help but laugh! Dennis is a great character, and Pegg just completely embraces him and lets the storyline move around him, with the rest of the cast backing him up. It's a great plot too, a loser trying to win back the love of his life in a big race against her new man, with Azaria's performance striking the balance excellently between hilarious and psychotic! I didn't expect it to be that great, but it really was. I didn't stop laughing from start to finish, and neither did my fiance, he loved it so much he wants to buy it now! It's a great British flick, with a fab cast and a director who has managed to really grab the essence of the film.
Directed by David Schwimmer, written by Michael Ian Black and Simon Pegg. The film was released in September 2007, and has a certificate of 12A. Running time is 100 minutes. You can buy the DVD on Amazon for £6.48.
Main Cast: Simon Pegg ... Dennis Doyle Thandie Newton ... Libby Odell Hank Azaria ... Whit Dylan Moran ... Gordon Harish Patel ... Mr. Goshdashtidar India de Beaufort ... Maya Goshdashtidar Matthew Fenton ... Jake
Advantages: Great British humour Disadvantages: None for me
When Dennis Doyle fled from Libby, his pregnant wife-to-be, on their wedding day, he thought that he was doing them both a favour. Five years later, Dennis has had plenty of time to reflect on that day, and he is sure of one thing - he wants Libby back. The only problem is that Libby now has a new man in her life - a good-looking, successful American called Whit, who is planning to run the London Marathon and is slowly gaining a place in Dennis' ... ...friends that he is not the loser that they all believe he is, Dennis decides to run the marathon himself. Will he be able to turn himself from couch potato to marathon runner? Or is he doomed to fail yet again?
Simon Pegg is Dennis Doyle. This is not a difficult role for him to take on - in fact, he plays pretty much the same character in Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead and Spaced - but there is something about his character that strikes a chord with ...
sunmeilan 30.06.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Run, Fat Boy, Run (DVD)
...was very keen to watch Run, Fat Boy, Run on DVD and it turned out to be a bit daft in places but nevertheless an enjoyable film. It's the sort of film that is classed as comedy but with a bit of pathos thrown in for good measure. The basic storyline sort of reminded me of The Full Monty - the good guy has hit rock bottom, tends to be a lousy father, whilst former wife or girlfriend has a smarmy new guy in tow! Our hero has to do something drastic ... ...- in the Full Monty Robert Carlyle took his clothes off, in this film Simon Pegg sets out to run a marathon!
Simon Pegg plays Dennis who five years ago left a heavily pregnant Libby (Thandie Newton)on their wedding day. Five years later he has a bit of a dead end job as a security guard and Libby has a new boyfriend Whit (Hank Azaria) who seems to be tryng to take over the role of Dad to five year old Jake. Whit also is a marathon runner and in ...
kingfisher111 29.03.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Run, Fat Boy, Run (DVD)
Advantages: Competent direction and affable performances. Disadvantages: Some sloppy editing and predictable writing.
Dennis makes the biggest mistake of his life when he runs out on his pregnant fiancée on their wedding day. Five years later he realises the error of his ways and decides to win her back. The only problem is that she's found someone else. Whit is the archetypal tall, dark, handsome stranger, plus he's rich, handsome and runs marathons for fun. So Dennis resolves to get fit and then take on his opponent in a local run. With the help of his best mate ... ...puts everything on the line to win back the love of his life and his son.
From the critical mauling this movie got on release, I expected it to be the worst film I'd ever seen. But it's far from it. Most of the complaints in the press seemed to be about the inappropriate title, as Simon Pegg is far from fat. Though I can see their point, it hardly feels like a good reason to condemn the film out of hand. The directorial debut of former "Friends" ...
afy9mab 13.02.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Run, Fat Boy, Run (DVD)
Introduction
***************
After watching Shawn of the Dead and Hot Fuzz I had to watch the next one, Run Fat Boy Run in the hope that this one might be just as excellent as Hot Fuzz.
Stoyline
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The main character of the story is Dennis Doyle who is an over weight man in a dead end job working as a security guard for a high street shop. Five years earlier Dennis is about to get married to Libby who is clearly pregnant at the time ... ...jumps out the window and runs down the street attempting to escape from the problem. From there on you can tell that Dennis is the type of charcters that can't finish anything he starts.
Now back to the present, Dennis meets Libby's new boyfriend 'Whit' who is clearly trying to make it with Libby. Whit is taking part in a marathon (the London Marathon) within a few weeks so in order get back with Libby, Dennis enters the Marathon as well to prove ...
burns2007 17.06.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Run, Fat Boy, Run (DVD)
Advantages: Thandie Newton Disadvantages: Ultra poor marathin running research
Now I'm not an ideal person to review this movie as I don't like Simon Pegg, I don't find him funny and I've never enjoyed one of his films yet so this review might be just a slight tad biased against the film. I'll try my best to be objective but it won't be easy. Pegg plays Dennis who jilts his stunningly beautiful bride to be (played by Thandie Newton, is he insane?) on their wedding day. Don't you already hate him? NO? Did I mention she's heavily ... ...Good! Now I truly don't understand why they chose this title. At the start of the film he's not fat, 5 years later he's not fat then either. That's just a bit of a middle age paunch, and as he's a smoker it's not a surprise. Pegg is an exceptionally pathetic character who is hard to root for. There aren't many laughs in the film (the little boy giving Pegg the finger on the night bus is hysterical!) and the running "joke" (because it is never funny) ...
atytyut2434 27.02.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Run, Fat Boy, Run (DVD)
Contains strong language and moderate sex references
Video Category
Feature Film
Country Of Origin
United Kingdom
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
ENTERTAINMENT IN VIDEO; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Languages
Main Language
English
Technical information
Aspect Ratio
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital
Professional reviews
Review
Pegg's every action, reaction and line-reading is winningly human, and he handles the romantic-lead stuff as adeptly as the pratfalls (Empire, 10/01/2008)
David Schwimmer, directing his first feature, elicits warm, funny performances from Pegg and Dylan Moran... (Sight And Sound, 10/01/2008)
DVD Description
A listless-yet-lovable loser (SHAUN OF THE DEAD's Simon Pegg) thinks he's found the way out of his rut and into the heart of his ex-fiancee: running a marathon. David Schwimmer (FRIENDS) directs this comedy with a script from Pegg and THE STATE's Michael Ian Black.
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