Run, Fatboy, Run DVD Review

By Kam Williams

Romantic Comedy Pairing Simon Pegg and Thandie Newton Released on DVD

On what was supposed to have been their wedding day, Dennis (Simon Pegg) bolted from the church at the last minute, leaving his pregnant fiancée, Libby (Thandie Newton), standing at the altar. The reluctant groom developed cold feet because he didn't think he deserved a girl that gorgeous, given that he's an overweight, chain-smoking slacker.

But now, five years later, he wants a second chance because he's still in love with her. However, getting her back will be easier said than done, since she's now involved with Whit (Hank Azaria), a filthy rich American who wants to marry her and whisk her away from London to Chicago. This means Dennis won't get to see much of their four year-old son, Jake (Matthew Fenton), and there are already signs that the boy has begun to bond with his mom's fiancée.

So, in his mind, Dennis feels that he has to prove himself Whit's equal both to win Libby's heart and the admiration of his child. Trouble is, he can't begin compete in terms of money or career, since he works for minimum wage at a clothing store.

Then, when he learns that Whit will be running in the upcoming London Marathon, Dennis impulsively announces that he'll be entering the race as well. Woefully out of shape, he knows he'll have to adopt a rigorous training regimen just to finish, let alone prevail.

Will Dennis beat Whit in the Nike River Run along the Thames River? And if so, will that feat be enough to impress Libby and little Jake? Those are the questions posed by Run, Fatboy, Run, a hard to pigeonhole romantic comedy which relies mostly on slapstick and sight gags to generate laughs. Dividing its attention equally between the love triangle and overcoming-the-odds theme, Run, Fatboy, Run is well enough crafted to keep you in stitches while on the edge of your seat for the duration, even if this laff-a-minute escape is more mindless than cerebral.

Excellent (3.5 stars)
Rated PG-13 for crude humor, profanity, sexuality, nudity and smoking.
Running time: 100 minutes
Studio: Warner Home Video

DVD Extras: Deleted scenes, Thandie's goof, and a commentary by the cast and director.

To see a trailer for Run, Fatboy, Run,