Run, Fatboy, Run (2007)

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

Director:

David Schwimmer

Writers:

Michael Ian Black (screenplay), Simon Pegg (screenplay)

Stars:

Simon Pegg, Thandie Newton, Hank Azaria

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Simon Pegg	...	Dennis
Thandie Newton	...	Libby
Hank Azaria	...	Whit
Dylan Moran	...	Gordon
Harish Patel	...	Mr. Goshdashtidar
India de Beaufort	...	Maya Goshdashtidar
Matthew Fenton	...	Jake
Simon Day	...	Vincent
Ruth Sheen	...	Claudine
Tyrone Huggins	...	Grover
Nevan Finegan	...	Mickey
Iddo Goldberg	...	News Reporter
Ameet Chana	...	Taxi Driver
Chris Hollins	...	Himself
Denise Lewis	...	Herself

Storyline

Dennis is a clueless and slightly overweight guy, who left his pregnant fiancée five years earlier. Every day, Dennis tries to persuade the woman he loves to accept him back into his life, but everyday he fails. When he discovers that Libby has found a partner in the form of American Whit, frustration grows, and Dennis vows, that for once in his life, he will finish something. This something ends up being a Nike River-run in London. With his friends Gordon and Mr. Ghoshdashtidar by his side, Dennis begins training for the marathon he must finish.

---

Plot Keywords:

blister | marathon | training | wedding | gym | 

---

Taglines:

True love isn't a sprint. It's a marathon.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Romance | Sport

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some rude and sexual humor, nudity, language and smoking

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [UK] Picturehouse [United States]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 March 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Run, Fat Boy, Run

Filming Locations:

Cannons Health Club, Endell Street, Covent Garden, London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£2,010,250 (UK) (7 September 2007)

Gross:

$5,998,971 (USA) (16 May 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Beech Hill Films, Entertainment Films, Material Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The original script centered on the running of the Los Angeles Marathon. Once a UK production team decided to make the film, the location was changed to London. Because another film had already secured the rights to the London Marathon, the filmmakers invented "The Nike River Run" to take its place.

---

Goofs

Dennis is incorrectly arrested for buying a theatre ticket from an undercover officer in a sting operation. It is not a criminal offence in England to tout genuine theatre tickets or to buy them from a tout. At worst it is a breach of civil contract with the theatre if they have inserted a "no sell on" clause into the terms of purchase, which would result in Dennis being refused entry by the theatre.

---

Quotes

Gordon: Well come on up!

---

Crazy Credits

Closing credits shown in (hard to read) foot-prints, as in a marathon runner running.

---

Connections

References Cujo (1983)

---

Soundtracks

54-46 Was My Number
Written by Toots Hibbert (as Frederick Hibbert)
Performed by Toots & The Maytals (as Toots and the Maytals)
Courtesy of Island Records Ltd. (United States)
Under license from Universal Music Operations

User Reviews

Haven't we seen this film before?

Not in sum, but every part seems familiar. It plays like a montage of previous rom coms.

There's nothing objectionable about it, but then again there's nothing memorable either. It's blurb, a schedule filler, one in the bank.

Pegg and Moran just sleepwalk through the same parts that they always play, not expanding their range on iota. Pegg's cringing everyman is getting quite tired now. Thandie Newton just has to stand in doorways and look pretty. Her character is a prize, not a person. The bit parts are played by the usual assortment of jobbing British actors, also on autopilot. Azaria is the strongest actor, but isn't given much of a part. His character development goes: good, good, good... evil, with no reason given for the sudden transition.

Everything about it, Schwimmer's direction included, is just... adequate. There's no snap, no pizazz, and no chemistry between any of the actors, something that becomes painfully obvious when listening to the awkward stilted commentary track. Film making by box ticking.

The whole is instantly forgettable, and dreadfully disappointing given the collection of talent working on it.