The Quad

Issue date: 4/7/08 Section: Entertainment

Runners have a point in a marathon that they refer to as "the wall;" this wall is metaphorical and refers to the point in which a runner cannot take anymore. Their muscles tense up, they have trouble breathing and their minds tell them that they cannot go any further. It can be said that films hit a wall of sorts, where the plot breaks down around the half-way mark and there are dull moments devoid of any really interesting scenes or plot developments. This wall plagues primarily comedies, which now run at two hours or more leaving many moments of boredom, save for a few notable exceptions.

It is this wall that "Run, Fat Boy, Run" seeks to avoid, and it does. Running only 95 minutes, "Run, Fat Boy, Run" is devoid of any lagging moments as it keeps its pace as if it were a runner saving up their energy for those final moments. Directed by "Friends" star David Schwimmer, the film moves effortlessly from one moment to the next, keeping up the laughs and allowing the story to flow in a quick, but interesting, way. This is arguably the best romantic comedy to come along in a very long time. A British film with American comedy, starring Simon Pegg, Thandie Newton, and Hank Azaria, "Run, Fat Boy, Run" is a smart, witty, charming film that is sure to please anyone who sees it.

Pegg plays Dennis Doyle, a lazy, ne'er-do-well clothing store security guard. He is out of shape and lacks any real motivation to do anything in his life, particularly those things which require a high level of responsibility. Five years prior to the events of the film, Dennis left his fiancée, Libby (Newton), at the altar pregnant with his child. Cold feet got the better of him and he ran off.

Now, he realizes that Libby was the best part of his life and he wants he back. However, she has moved on to Whit (Azaria), who is the exact opposite of Dennis. He is successful, charming, athletic and good-looking. Whit informs Dennis that he will be running in the Nike River-run in London. Dennis decides that he will run the marathon in order to regain Libby's affection for him and prove to her that he has changed. He enlists the help of his best friend Gordon (Dylan Moran) and his landlord Mr. Goshdashtidar (Harish Patel), to help train him. Dennis must now prove to both himself and Libby that he has changed by completing the marathon, something that no one thinks that he can do.

Schwimmer, in his directorial debut, proves that he knows the art of filmmaking. The "Friends" alum has wisely chosen a smart, witty film to show off his newly found directorial finesse. It seems that Schwimmer, having been primarily a comedic actor throughout his career, knows how to set up a comedy and knows what an audience is looking for. He establishes a pace that allows the story to flow seamlessly throughout the course of the film's 95-minute running time.

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