Run Fat Boy Run (2007)

Directed by: David Schwimmer | 95 minutes | comedy | Actors: Simon Pegg, Thandie Newton, Hank Azaria, Dylan Moran, Harish Patel, India de Beaufort, Matthew Fenton, Ameet Chana, David Gatt, Iddo Goldberg, Yaourou Konate, Stephen Merchant, Jade Ramsey, Nikita Ramsey, Deo Simcox, Anna Tolputt , David Walliams

A quintessentially English comedy, set in London, with English actors, British humor and then the all-American director David Schwimmer (Ross from ‘Friends’). What’s wrong here? The main character is sympathetically portrayed by Simon Pegg, known for his roles in ‘Shaun of the Dead’, among others. Dennis is a bit out of shape as he says himself (“I’m not fat, I’m just unfit!”); smokes a bit too much and may have some money issues but otherwise a nice guy. He had it all together when the beautiful Libby became pregnant with him and the two were about to get married. But Dennis got scared and did what he always does when there’s trouble: run away.

We are making a time jump of five years, in which little has changed for Dennis bar. Fortunately, he has good contact with son Jake, who, played by Matthew Fenton, is irresistible from the very first shot. Dennis has long realized that he has made a big mistake and would prefer to try to get Libby back. But then she suddenly turns out to have a new boyfriend, the American Whit (Hank Azaria), seen as the ‘perfect man’ – if by perfect is meant an arrogant businessman with a clean-shaven body. Whit irritates Dennis from the start and Dennis feels his relationship with Jake is threatened. As a viewer, you feel unconditionally for Dennis, as it happens in romantic comedies. In that, the casting of Simon Pegg has been a good decision.

Work has clearly been done on elaboration in ‘Run, Fatboy, Run’. The makers have done their best in various areas to give the film a ‘London’ feel and to bind the viewer. There are the many witty supporting roles, of the aforementioned Matthew Fenton as Jake, but also Dylan Moran as Dennis’ best friend and also Libby’s cousin Gordon. Then there is Dennis’s Indian upstairs neighbor, Mr. Goshdashtidar, who helps Dennis become a better person. Finally, several guest appearances brighten up the production considerably. Suddenly there is David Walliams from ‘Little Brittain’, with glasses and an annoying voice, and who falls down the stairs a little later: co-creator of ‘The Office’ Stephen Merchant (also the annoying impresario from ‘Extras’). The music is also well chosen: mainly British songs are played, at the right times the right songs are played. In addition to typical English actors and plenty of British music, the amount of locations (all in London) is also striking. The residential area in North London; the modern business center; idyllic parks; bridges; churches: the city is shown in all its glory, which contributes to a certain authenticity or at least versatility.

That leaves only the question: why is an American directing this film, in which English humor triumphs, the American man is arrogant and fake and ultimately loses to the English anti-hero? The screenplay was initially written for a film in New York, and after Schwimmer was appointed director, the entire project was moved to London. The storyline is not too original, romantic-comic predictable and the final scene is far too long, but fortunately the course of the film and still the British touch ‘Run, Fatboy, Run’ can lift slightly above the usual level.