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Schwimmer gets little mileage in ‘Run Fat Boy'

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This week, I will be looking at “Run Fat Boy Run,” a romantic comedy starring and co-written by Simon Pegg from “Shaun of the Dead” and “Hot Fuzz.”

First-time director David Schwimmer (best known as Ross from “Friends”) brings us Dennis (Pegg), a man who suffers such a bad case of cold feet at his wedding to his pregnant fiancée Libby (Thandie Newton) that he literally runs from the ceremony. For years Dennis, who works in a lingerie shop as a security guard, must see Libby from time to time when he picks up his son Jake (Matthew Fenton). One day during this exchange, Dennis runs into Libby's new boyfriend, the seemingly perfect Whit (Hank Azaria), and becomes determined to get Libby back before it's too late. Out of shape, pudgy and unprepared, he decides to take part in (and finish) a marathon in an effort to impress Libby and win back his family.

What ensues is a sometimes amusing, always trite romantic comedy. Pegg is funny as usual and brings on some good solid laughs, but I think Newton is poorly cast as the once-jilted girlfriend who still inexplicably has feelings for her now-loser ex-fiancé. She just does not seem to fit the part.

Azaria's Whit, too, garners chuckles, but again the story is so predictable that the character might as well wear signs. The story plays out just as we want and there are some fun, semi-entertaining moments sprinkled along the way, but it never really completely satisfies.

“Run Fat Boy Run” never gives us anything fresh in the genre. I was particularly put off by a few disgusting scenes that were more gross than funny.

For his debut directing role, Schwimmer offers audiences a safe and watchable PG-13-rated date movie, but does little to make it stand out from the pack of lukewarm romantic comedies. Still, I did laugh and wasn't wholly bored at any given time and that certainly says something.

My fellow moviegoers seem to have mixed feelings about the film. Many hated it, others enjoyed it and a few, like me, tolerated it and took it for what it is - a predictable, silly romance with a decent message.

I am placing a C in my gradebook. I like Pegg and know some will enjoy “Run Fat Boy Run” for what it is.

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