Run, Fatboy, Run.

I like movies, but don't get out a bunch, so I finally succumbed to those omni... er, pervasive... Netflix ads and signed up for two free weeks. My first movie was Simon Pegg's "Run, Fatboy, Run". I dig Simon Pegg. I loved his zombie flick, "Shaun of the Dead", and enjoyed his take on cop movies, "Hot Fuzz". This time Pegg is Dennis, a security guard for a London lingerie shop. Dennis is essentially the same lovable deadbeat character Pegg played in the earlier movies, only with a different sidekick. As in those movies, the main theme is his quest for redemption. Boy, he needs it this time. He left his beautiful, pregnant fiancee at the altar five years earlier, and her attempt to "move on" with a new American boyfriend, Whit, played by Hank Azaria, prompts him to accept a challenge to run a marathon to win back his girl, or at least her respect. Decent symbolism in the marathon, as Pegg's character has run away from just about every challenge he's ever faced. When he discovers that his babymamma has become engaged to Whit, he decides to give up on the marathon. He's jolted out of his pity-party when he's told his son has run away. He finds him, listens to his boy's tale of woe, and responds thusly:



Whether you're a down and out London security guard, or a public defender in the Boro, it's hard to imagine advice much better than that. The light bulb comes on for Dennis, and he decides to run the race, after all. Does he make it? Does he grow as a person? Does he earn the respect of his son and his babymamma? I'm not going to spoil it for you. Suffice it to say, there aren't a ton of surprises in this flick. Doesn't matter. Like I said, I dig Simon Pegg.