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Movie Description
FRIENDS star David Schwimmer takes a rare turn in the director's chair for this British comedy, written by its principal actor, Simon Pegg (SHAUN OF THE DEAD), and THE STATE favorite Michael Ian Black. Pegg plays Dennis, a likeable loser who got cold feet on his wedding day and ran out on his bride-to-be, Libby (Thandie Newton). The action in RUN, FAT BOY, RUN takes place five years after this event. In the preceding years, Dennis has landed a job as a lowly security guard and Libby has given birth to a son, Jake (Matthew Fenton), who was conceived with Dennis before their break-up. Libby has also hooked up with a new man, the slimy but successful American businessman Whit (Hank Azaria). Dennis, who is still hung up on Libby, decides he must compete against Whit in the forthcoming London marathon to win back her affections. But, naturally, things don't quite go according to plan.
Pegg and Schwimmer's film is full of some wonderfully silly set pieces, and the supporting cast occasionally resembles a Who's Who of British comedy, with Dylan Moran (BLACK BOOKS), David Walliams (LITTLE BRITAIN), and Stephen Merchant (EXTRAS) all making appearances. But the film also contains some surprisingly touching moments, with Schwimmer occasionally tempering the laughs by weaving genuine sentiment into the plot. Many of the film's belly laughs come courtesy of Moran, who makes an excellent foil as Dennis's best friend (and Libby's cousin), the wayward Gordon. But the real star of the show is Pegg, who seems to instinctively know when to ease up on the laughs, making RUN, FAT BOY, RUN an enjoyable romp that has a lot in common with farcical British comedies such as FAWLTY TOWERS and the CARRY ON series.
Industry Reviews
3 stars out of 5 -- "Pegg's every action, reaction and line-reading is winningly human, and he handles the romantic-lead stuff as adeptly as the pratfalls."
Empire - Tom Ambrose (10/01/2007)
"David Schwimmer, directing his first feature, elicits warm, funny performances from Pegg and Dylan Moran..."
Sight and Sound - Kate Stables (11/01/2007)
"RUN FAT BOY RUN is entertainment on a large scale and more nimble than one might expect. Amiable, consistently amusing and surprisingly affecting..."
USA Today - Claudia Puig (03/28/2008)
"[Schwimmer] has a welcome eye for laughs that sneak in around familiar corners."
Rolling Stone - Peter Travers (04/03/2008)
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