A Run for your money!

''I did a stupid, stupid thing. But it was only because I thought spoiling your day was better than ruining your life. Does that make any sense? ''

Five years after jilting his pregnant fiancée on their wedding day, out-of-shape Dennis decides to run a marathon to win her back.

Simon Pegg: Dennis Doyle

Director David Swhimmer emphasizes the fact that Run, Fat boy Run is a great British Comedy and proceeds to capitalize on all the factors that make a successful one. Granted it's got what counts in the laugh stakes, plot is a totally different spin for a change yet has that sparkle of main Hero, failing at the beginning. Said failure involving him leaving pregnant partner at the alter, then the movie progresses he has to redeem himself. Run, Fatboy, Run cleverly regurgitates a hit formula and hits a dazzling strike in the right direction.

Granted Run, Fatboy, Run isn't quite in the same league as Edgar Wright's Hot Fuzz & Shaun of the Dead but it's almost there. For a change Simon Pegg goes rogue working with a different blend of comedy writers, and he shows he still has what it takes.

''Go on then, run!''

''Isn't there some kind of like... special technique?''

''Well... yeah... you put one leg in front of the other over and over again really really fast.''

One of the great things about Run, Fatboy, Run is the comical performances and characters.
Thandie Newton as Elizabeth Olivia 'Libby' Odell shows a light and breezy woman, who seems to be picking some great English movies to be in, like RocknRolla recently. Her Elizabeth is sweet and motherly, kind and resolute, Thandie displays these qualities well.
Hank Azaria as Whit, the American new man in Elizabeth's life and a new rival for her affections, putting Dennis to the task of winning her back.
Dylan Moran as Gordon, reunites with Pegg after their collaboration performances on Shaun of the Dead. Their chemistry on screen as usual shines bright and theres even a comical fight scene between them accompanied by a Kaiser Chiefs song.
Harish Patel as Mr. Goshdashtidar is a priceless character too, who gives some funny lines and delivers laughs aplenty.
Even David Walliams pops up in the Bun Shop, giving some memories of Little Britain into the sketch.

''The only serious relationship I've been in ended in a broken collarbone and a dead meerkat.''

The soundtrack is absolutely addictive and the structuring of Run, Fatboy, Run's plot speeds along at a quick yet leisurely pace.
When we actually get to the Marathon Race we are having a ball of a time. The laughs keep coming in thick and thin, also supplying to an extent electric Drama and moderate acting. Run, Fatboy, Run succeeds in being a feel good comedic film thats not to be taken to seriously and just to be enjoyed, experienced and washed along with the flow.

''I can lose weight... but you'll always be an arsehole!''

In retrospective and in conclusion with such a colourful story line, Run, Fat Boy, relying on Pegg's reputation to pull in audiences and viewers. I suspect that many devotees may be occasional Comedy lovers who simply demand something light and relatively untaxing. Pegg has the natural ability to make a futile chase after stolen women's underwear funny. When he seems to be rubbing himself off against a shop mannequin it could be a pathetic or a blunt sketch in any other hands, but his wide-eyed bemusing expression and fast pacing move us from one joke to the next before we have time to analyse.
I love the British nature of this, the good guy and his basic life, it's not flashy or self indulged, or Hollywood-ised.
It's just a simple story with comedy stars doing silly things and making us laugh, a perfect equation that results in a positive result.

''Oh, yeah! Yes, I like it! Run, fatboy, run!''

7/10