Run, Fat Boy, 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	...	TV Reporter
Denise Lewis	...	TV Reporter

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.

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Plot Keywords:

blister | marathon | training | wedding | gym | 

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Taglines:

Love. Commitment. Responsibility. There's nothing he won't run away from.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

David Walliams: the man in the bakery. The role is quite similar to "Mr. Mann" in a recurrent sketch from Little Britain (2003). He plays an annoying customer who always comes up ridiculously impossible requests.

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Goofs

When Dennis is being evicted, he has a fresh wound in his face. In the next shot, it's completely gone. There is not even a scar.

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Quotes

Gordon: Hey do you think it would be weird if I took a bath?
[pause]
Gordon: Yeah... that would be weird.

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Crazy Credits

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

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Alternate Versions

Two words are dubbed over in the version shown on HBO in the United States. (1) While in the bun shop, the little old lady calls Dennis a "prick" instead of a "cock". (2) When Libby is showing Gordon the bathroom, he says that he put on Italian loafers and they "hurt like hell" instead of "hurt like fuck". In both instances, the actor's mouths are clearly mouthing the correct words, which are also shown in the closed captions.

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Connections

Features The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

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Soundtracks

Be My Love
Written by Andy Georges
Performed by Andy Georges

User Reviews

David Schwimmer directs Simon Pegg stars: and this has running power

"Big Nothing" was a decent collaboration, but lacked punch. RFBR is much closer the mark - classic British humour all dressed up as a good comedy sports romance movie.

It looks and feels like it got Ealing Comedy in its genes - or more recently The Tall Guy from the 80's, or Steve Coogan's The Parole Officer rather than class based comedies like Four Weddings - a good small low-key British comedy, with a nice parade of eccentrics - not high concept, not too low brow, rather good old fashioned heart which it absolutely wears its heart firmly on its sleeve.

David Schwimmer seems comfortable behind the camera - our favourite scene in terms of camera was the bin fight - but overall you know what genre you watching and it doesn't require too much effort to relax and enjoy.

The plot is a simple one - Dennis (Simon Pegg) gets cold feet and literally bolts on his wedding day from his pregnant fiancée, Libby (Thandie Newton). Five years on, and life has not been good to Dennis, he's suffering from middle-aged spread, working as a rent-a-cop for a lingerie store, and living below his Indian landlord (A wonderful Harish Patel, who deserves lots more work based on this).When his son starts bonding with Libby's new man Whit (Hank Azurius), whose everything Dennis is not, and American to boot, Dennis realizes the relationship with Libby is what he cares about and the only way to beat Whit is to run the same marathon as him. Needless to say Dennis is as fit as beached whale, but where the heart will, the body doth follow.

His best friend, and unrepentant gambler Gordon (A super cynical Dylan Moran at his absolute laid back best) urges him on, partly for financial gain, and partly, well, because he enjoys seeing Dennis flounder and succeed.

Like any competent sport movie we get the training etc; but here the emphasis is on the laughs.

Of course, like any romantic comedy the pay off is sweet, and uplifting.

It doesn't have enough bite to lift it up to the echelons of classic comedy - but it works well as a small comedy - there are lots of sweet touches that pay off - but not enough belly laughs to really satisfy.

We like it a lot - the camera tells the story really well - nothing too smart, just good narrative filming. David Schwimmer definitely knows his British films - this looks and fells straight out of the genre - and you'd never guess a Yank made it - all the nuances are there. Nice.

These guys obviously like each other and we look forward to seeing more from them in the future...

Recommended as a good small British comedy.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [UK] Picturehouse [United States]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 March 2008 (USA)

Also Known As:

Run, Fatboy, Run

Filming Locations:

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

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$2,340,743, 30 March 2008

Gross USA:

$6,003,262

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$33,478,921

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