Run, Fat Boy, Run (Dir: David Schwimmer)

Fat Boy is a slight, silly film which tells the story of Dennis Doyle (Simon Pegg) slacker security guard living in London and trying to win back the girl (Thandie Newton) who he left stranded and pregnant at the altar five years earlier. He is competing for Newton's attentions with alpha male banking honcho Whit, played by Hank Azaria who you may know as about a third of the voices on The Simpsons, including Chief Wiggum. Doyle is also forced to compete with Whit for the love of his own son Jake (Matthew Fenton).

In order to win back Newton, Doyle decides to undertake a movie premise and to compete against runner Whit in the London Marathon. His best buddy Dylan (Gordon Moran), the Rhys Ifans of the film, and jolly landlord Mr. Goshtashtidar (Harish Patel) join Dennis in his quest, engaging him in a merciless training ritual. Along the way Dennis will steadily mature and learn the importance of accepting responsibility.

The film's performances are broad and Pegg is called upon to do a lot of mugging. He plays straight man brilliantly in the smart comedies Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, but he's far less successful as the goofball. Fat Boy might have gotten by on its lack of pretension, good message, and breezy predictability if not for some ill advised dips into the scatological. The film doesn't hold many surprises although I found it's restrained conclusion to be believable and sweet. A breezy film that won't surprise, but might do just enough to entertain you.