Actor David Schwimmer makes his feature film directorial debut with an innocuous romantic comedy about Londoner Dennis (played by the talented Simon Pegg), a chubby lingerie store security guard, obsessed with winning back Libby, the woman he left stranded at the alter five years ago.
Thandie Newton plays Libby, a career-minded professional leading a happy life with the man of her dreams, a smarmy filthy rich American named Whit (played with gusto by Hank Azaria).
Acting on desperation, Dennis promises to run in an upcoming charity marathon that the athletically prone Whit is also running in.
"Run, Fat Boy, Run" is a cut-and-dried formula comedy slightly elevated by its more than competent cast.
Simon Pegg is genuinely funny as the slacker underdog, Hank Azaria snaps a few comic zingers, and Thandie Newton is irreproachable as the object of desire.
Rated PG-13. 97 mins.
