Run Fat Boy Run: A film review

It's a very difficult thing, story telling. For one thing, the story teller has got time against him. A good story teller goes into the telling knowing that his story has already been told (as all stories have already been told in some form or fashion), and that there are no purely original ideas, but he also goes armed with the vision and creativity to make his oft told story somehow new again. Or at least fresh. Unfortunately this rarely happens within the confines of the film genre Romantic Comedy, and Run Fat Boy, Run is no exception.

Spoilers Ahead:

I usually don't like to give my synopsis of films because, quite honestly, I think they're dumb. Obviously this is 2009 and you (the reader) have plenty of resources at your disposal if you want to know the entire storyline of a movie. Hell, you can read the script of most movies before they are even released thanks to Harry Knowles and his types of movie gossip websites. But, honestly, I hate reading reviews on Amazon or Netflix that are heavily laden with each reviewers own short (if you're lucky!) version of the movie. Why do they feel the need to inflict this upon me? I only want to know if they liked it and why or why not! But I digress and am in danger of becoming a hypocrite. However, in this case I am throwing all of that out of the window and I am going to tell you exactly what this movie is about. If you want to be surprised, stop reading. For those that wish to keep reading, carry on.

Ready? Okay, here goes.

Man has woman. Man leaves woman. Later man wants woman back after he realizes he has made a mistake. But, woman is moving on with new man. Man decides to shape up to get woman back from new man. Hilarity ensues.

You fill in the blanks.

The storyline is ridiculously simple. Make no mistake, this is no intellectual comedy. But how can it be? It was co-written by Michael Ian Black. If you've never heard of him, it's no wonder. He's a no talent hack of a "comic". But! Despite this and the movie's obvious faults, it does deliver quite a few decent belly laughs. I will credit those to the actors and the other co-writer Simon Pegg. I simply refuse to believe that Michael Ian Black has ever had a funny thought in his dull, little brain, much less written one down. I haven't the slightest idea how this guy even retains his ability to get new gigs. He is on TV almost as much as that no-talent moron Kathy Griffin (I think I just threw up in my mouth a little).

So, crappy story, decent laughs, and good performances from the cast, particularly by co-stars Dylan Moran as Simon Pegg's best friend and Harish Patel as his landlord. Most of the really funny stuff happens when either of these two characters are on screen.

Score: 3/5

Kirk Out.