ALARIS' REVIEWS

15th June 2008
Run Fatboy Run (2007)

Spoiler Warning >_<

I'm going to be harsh because I had high expectations of this film. I really enjoyed Shaun of the Dead, also starring Simon Pegg, and I'd read fairly positive reviews about Run Fatboy Run. While the film had some funny moments, and touches of genuine warmth, it was largely underwhelming and failed to deliver on its potential.

The premise of the film is Dennis leaves his pregnant fiancée, Libby, at the altar, and five years later tries to win her back by running a charity marathon. It could have been a wonderfully cheesy underdog story, with touches of satirical melodrama. Or it could have been an understated human drama, with touches of quirky, observational humour. Instead, it wallowed in some awkward middle ground and turned into just another film about an immature boy-man who gets the gorgeous girl.

One of the biggest problems is the fact that there isn't a lot to like about Dennis. He isn't a bad person, and Simon Pegg does a good job of the role, but there's nothing about Dennis that makes you want to watch him. For this kind of everyman character to carry a film, we have to see him begin to change far earlier, and far more dramatically. Or, we need to see what makes him special much earlier in the film.

The great disappointment of Run Fatboy Run is that the Dennis at the end isn't enormously different to the Dennis at the start. There was no amazing journey of maturation, which is what we're watching for. There was far too much reliance on the marathon as the metaphor, without showing Dennis making changes to other aspects of his life and character.

Another slight irritation is the fact that the film relies on the self implosion of Dennis' rival for Libby's affections, rather than Dennis showing that he is the better man despite stiff competition. I found that a little bit cheap and unnecessary.

All that said, Run Fatboy Run was not a terrible film, and there were definitely parts that were entertaining. However, I was disappointed, and I felt that the film got stuck in shallow territory when there was potential for something much stronger.

Verdict: Some entertaining moments, but mostly pretty ordinary.

If you like films about immature boy-men getting the girl, you might like this.

Read Clementine's review of Run Fatboy Run (2007).