Thursday 20 June 2013

Review - Run Fat Boy Run




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

Hey Everyone

Welcome to next Dr.Film Blog, today I have decided to review 'Run Fatboy Run' a courageous comedy, about a man who plans to win back the respect of the girl who once loved him, by running a marathon.

As you can tell it's not your basic love and romance, but a once in a lifetime comedy about Simon Pegg running around in a shirt and shorts.

SPOILER ALERT: I will be revealing a few spoilers, as I talk about this film. So it is important that if you haven't seen this film, and you don't want it to be spoiled then to protect your own privacy, I recommend you read this review abit later.

The film came out in the UK on the 7th of September 2007, and didn't get released in the USA until the 28th of March 2008. It is now available to buy on DVD and Blu-Ray. Those with Ipads or Iphones can also download it off Itunes.

The Film is about Dennis Doyle (Simon Pegg) who is a clueless and unfit guy, who left his pregnant fiancée five years earlier. Every day since then Dennis tries to persuade the woman he loves to accept him back into his life, but everyday he fails.

When he discovers that Libby (Thandi Newton) has found anew boyfriend in the form of American Whit (Hank Azaria) the frustration grows on him, and Dennis vows, that for once in his life, he will finish something. This something ends up being a Nike River-run in London.

Having heard of this, Dennis's friend Gordon (Dylan Moran) and neighbour Mr. Ghoshdashtidar (Harish Patel) tend to be by his side to help him out, Dennis begins training for the marathon he must finish. When Dennis finds out that Libby's getting married again, he's devastated and left heart broken. so much so that he refuses to run.

But it is after explaining a point to his son, that Dennis feels he has something to prove by running, so he gets himself back in the game and runs the marathon, he never gives up.



I thought this film was brilliant from start to finish. I think it sets out to prove that you should see something through to the end. You should finish what you start, you shouldn't give up because giving up defeats the point your trying to prove.

Although it's a comedy, I didn't think it was hilarious, by any means. some of the jokes are really funny, but there isn't really anything special about 'Run Fat boy Run' as a comedy. I think it shines on the more serious and sensitive side of things.

I have to say my favourite scene in the film, is the bit at the end when Dennis is carrying on with the maratahon with a sprained ankle. What's good about that scene is, he never stops. Even when he hits the invisible wall, he manages to get passed it and it's the strength and love he has for his son and for Libby that make him finish it off.

It is in every sense a feel good film, but it depends what kind of mood your in when you watch it. I do feel that you have to be in the light-hearted mood to watch it, and to really get into it.

The Director of this film, is none other than Friends star David Schwimmer. He's as good a director as he is an actor. It's great that he is trying to look at things from the other side of the camera. I think he had lots of good ideas which he presented with the actors, he was very to the point in the way he wanted a particular scene shot, I thought he was very proprietorial, very clean cut and his camera angles were a bit hit and miss.




This film has some brilliant guest stars coming in to play parts. You got people like Thandi Newton, Hank Azaria, Dylan Moran, Harish Patel,India de Beaufort, Simon Day, Ruth Sheen, Stephen Merchant, David Walliams and Tyrone Huggins to name a few.

All the guest cast delivers to the best of their abilities, and each of them has a wonderful control and personality that they bring to their characters.

I thought Simon Pegg as Dennis Doyle was brilliant. Simon Pegg is one of my favourite actors. I think he's brilliant. I liked him playing Dennis, The man who's fed up of trying but he keeps at it even though he knows he's going to fail. His character of Dennis is a guy who does what he thinks is right for his son. He's the sort of lazy chap who goes to work, has a couple of pints and fags with his friend, before he goes to bed to start the next day. He just made the character his own and that's all a good actor can do.

I thought all the settings were chosen very well, with perseverance in lighting to show when it was light and dark, shows understanding of setting a mood.

The Music was good to, again sets a mood, helps tell the story better. gives the audience another way to communicate with the story.



In a nutshell 'Run Fat boy Run' is a really enjoyable comedy which has a strong message of seeing something through to the end and not giving up.

I am going to rate this film 8/10

1 Gold Star to Simon Pegg

NEXT TIME : I will review Danny Boyle film 'Trance' starring James McAvoy, Vincent Cassell and
Rosario Dawson

I will post that review on Friday the 21st of June 2013.

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