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Though the newest Simon Pegg flick, RUN FATBOY RUN, wasn't an "official" Rankatron selection, this was one of the alternates...and a good alternate it was.
Simon Pegg (SHAWN OF THE DEAD, HOT FUZZ) has followed in the footsteps of many entertaining international actors trying to break through into North America mainstream such as Jackie Chan, Rowan Atkinson, and Ricky Gervais. Simon Pegg is going through his RUMBLE IN THE BRONX phase right before he breaks through with his RUSH HOUR. I fear Pegg may go the way of other British comic actors who are extremely talented but never truly connect to most audiences in North America (such as Stephen Fry or Eric Idle). His raw British dry wit is genius and filled with much heart, which isn't fully appreciated if you take the box office numbers on this side of The Pond as an example. If Ricky Gervais cornered the market of hilarious awkward moments for British comedy, Pegg is slowly perfecting the comic art of the lovable loser.
As such, RUN FATBOY RUN chronicles lovable loser, Denny Doyle, who runs from his own wedding leaving his pregnant fiance, Libby, (the fresh Thandie Newton from PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS) to pick up the pieces of her life. He finds salvation and direction five years later in the form of the London Marathon and Libby's new beau, Whit (bufftastic Hank Azaria). Chubby Denny partakes in the London Marathon to amusing and often silly outcomes in hopes of proving to Libby that leaving her at the altar was a mistake he sorely regretted.
RUN FATBOY RUN is a Rom-Com at it's root but done from the guy's point of view with a twist of dry British humour. David Schwimmer directs a sweet and sharp comedy that echoes his character, Ross, from Friends. Don't miss this comedy or else you'll be missing a truly unique actor (Pegg...not Schwimmer) about to hit his prime.
7 more miles out of 10
