Typical rom com fare with a serving of Pegg.

Rating: 6/10 (16 April 2008)

If you're looking for a good romantic comedy to take a date to or something right now, go to see Run Fatboy Run. Simon Pegg of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz fame (along with other comedies and Spaced, a popular British TV show) co-writes and acts in a movie about a man who, five years after running out on his pregnant fiancée on the day of their wedding, attempts to win her back by beating her American boyfriend at a marathon--no easy feat as he's lazy, overweight, out of shape, and generally lacks the whole discipline thing to really make something of himself.
The majority of the proceeds is straight-up rom-com fare: the at-appearances wonderful successful boyfriend (Hank Azaria) is actually a jerk, the underdog flies his way up the presentability ladder to become someone the female just can't resist, and he proves himself to the greater of society as well. Conflict is in the form of romantic feud, people who obviously don't believe in him, and a general unimpressed world to contend with. Nothing is unexpected.
But the point of these fares are really to entertain and beget optimism, and hey, Simon Pegg is GREAT at that. He's honestly a really good actor, and does his role with aplomb. Meanwhile, he's backed up by Shaun of the Dead supporter Dylan Moran and an attractive and lovable Thandie Newton. Whether for a night out for some good escapism or maybe a rental for friends, it serves up a well-known and well-made dish.
Just... don't see it with anybody in the medical or athletic health profession. They'll spend a lot of time gripping about the end. And to be sure, the result of the marathon isn't exactly something to be aspired.
--PolarisDiB