2008 Woodie Awards
Walk don't run to see new Pegg Film
Christopher Petterson
Issue date: 4/2/08 Section: Opinion
Simon Pegg is a funny Englishman. American audiences have been won over twofold by Pegg, who wrote and starred in the instant classic Shaun of the Dead, as well as its immensely enjoyable follow-up, Hot Fuzz.
This week the writer/actor has a new film out, Run Fatboy Run, co-written by Michael Ian Black (of Wet Hot American Summer and every talking head show VH1 has ever produced) and directed by none other than former Friend, David Schwimmer.
Now, I may be in the minority here, but when I think of really great comedy and great filmmaking, the first name that pops into my head is most assuredly not David Schwimmer. BUT, the surprising thing is, as a director, he shows some promise. More on that in a bit.
Run Fatboy Run is about Dennis Doyle, a likeable underachiever whose only real fault is abandoning his pregnant fiancé on their wedding day. I mean, nobody's perfect. Five years after this little faux pas, Dennis has accumulated a crappy apartment, a dead-end security guard job, and a son who loves him very much. In probably one of the most improbable acts of level-headedness I've ever heard of, Dennis's ex-fiancé (Thandie Newton) actually lets him see his boy on a regular basis. Those brits must be the forgiving type. Which is not to say that his ex, Libby, can actually stand him anymore. She has moved on to a new man, the well-off, well-mannered, well-looking Whit (Hank Azaria, who voices about half of The Simpsons cast).
Dennis is perturbed enough by Whit and the thought of Libby ending up with him to try and win her back. He decided that to show Libby that he can change, and that he can be responsible and dedicated, he vows to run a marathon. Clearly this is where hilarity is supposed to ensue.
And it does, a little. There are certainly moments where I laughed out loud. However, for about the first half of the film, I was mostly feeling depressed. I mean, this guy is not what one would call inspiring, unless you looked at him as a bad example. And his story is not very uplifting. Even after he decided to run the marathon, he's met by naysaying on all sides, except for his best friend, who bet a sizable sum on Dennis's ability to finish the marathon. But eventually the film turns around, and it becomes your classic overcome-the-odds tale. Dennis even reaches a catharsis pretty early on, confessing to Libby that while he did start this as an attempt to win her back, he's realized he's doing it more for himself, and is willing to settle for her respect.
This week the writer/actor has a new film out, Run Fatboy Run, co-written by Michael Ian Black (of Wet Hot American Summer and every talking head show VH1 has ever produced) and directed by none other than former Friend, David Schwimmer.
Now, I may be in the minority here, but when I think of really great comedy and great filmmaking, the first name that pops into my head is most assuredly not David Schwimmer. BUT, the surprising thing is, as a director, he shows some promise. More on that in a bit.
Run Fatboy Run is about Dennis Doyle, a likeable underachiever whose only real fault is abandoning his pregnant fiancé on their wedding day. I mean, nobody's perfect. Five years after this little faux pas, Dennis has accumulated a crappy apartment, a dead-end security guard job, and a son who loves him very much. In probably one of the most improbable acts of level-headedness I've ever heard of, Dennis's ex-fiancé (Thandie Newton) actually lets him see his boy on a regular basis. Those brits must be the forgiving type. Which is not to say that his ex, Libby, can actually stand him anymore. She has moved on to a new man, the well-off, well-mannered, well-looking Whit (Hank Azaria, who voices about half of The Simpsons cast).
Dennis is perturbed enough by Whit and the thought of Libby ending up with him to try and win her back. He decided that to show Libby that he can change, and that he can be responsible and dedicated, he vows to run a marathon. Clearly this is where hilarity is supposed to ensue.
And it does, a little. There are certainly moments where I laughed out loud. However, for about the first half of the film, I was mostly feeling depressed. I mean, this guy is not what one would call inspiring, unless you looked at him as a bad example. And his story is not very uplifting. Even after he decided to run the marathon, he's met by naysaying on all sides, except for his best friend, who bet a sizable sum on Dennis's ability to finish the marathon. But eventually the film turns around, and it becomes your classic overcome-the-odds tale. Dennis even reaches a catharsis pretty early on, confessing to Libby that while he did start this as an attempt to win her back, he's realized he's doing it more for himself, and is willing to settle for her respect.
Be the first to comment on this story