Dan's Papers - April 4, 2008 - Flick Picks with Ian Stark

Perhaps former "Friends" star David Schwimmer has taken a cue from his acting work: as a member of that ensemble cast he was very good, but as Matt LeBlanc discovered, it's often the team that makes the man. With that, we can give Schwimmer a pat on the back as he has survived his feature-film directorial debut with Run Fatboy Run...with a little help from his (new) friends.

This time around, his chums are writers, namely Michael Ian Black and Simon Pegg, both skilled comedy creators who know how to mulch pop culture and cultivate thorny roses of clever parody. Black (you've seen him a million times: MTV's "The State," "Reno 911," "Ed") first devised this rom-com shredder, then Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) punched it up, relocated it from New York to England and also stars as the lead character - as he often does so well. Add in the beauty of Thandie Newton (Norbit, Crash) and the all-around ability of Hank Azaria (The Simpsons, Mystery Men), and one may feel Schwimmer could have directed this from a barcalounger.

Pegg stars as Dennis, a character reminiscent of his slacker from Shaun, someone who is loaded with potential but just doesn't know where to start. He's nervous and he's prone to lousy decision-making, which is all too obvious when he decides to bow out on his wedding day, leaving his pregnant fiancée Libby (Newton) at the altar.

Fast-forward five years later, he's only gotten slackier, working as a dumpy security guard and almost broke. His loser mentality has basically gotten the best of him, as life has become a mope, save the time he spends with the family he once abandoned. He loves his son, and even weirder, really loves his baby's mother, who has - rightfully - never forgiven him. His only other outlet is hanging with his buddy Gordon (Dylan Moran, standing in for Pegg's usual bum-in-tandem Nick Frost), so it's no wonder he's not quite the physical specimen.

However, motivation arrives in the guise of handsome Whit (Azaria), an American hedge-fund manager who sweeps Libby off her feet with charm and a ripped bod. You guessed it: Dennis is suddenly motivated, and decides to prove to his ex that he can get in shape and pull it together by taking on Whit in a marathon.

It's time for an important announcement: this is not your typical Simon Pegg film, at least not to those who swoon at Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. The expectation with "Run" is that this take on Hollywood romantic comedies would be in line with the loving rips he's had with horror and action flicks, but unfortunately this is less a droll dissection and more of a slapstick re-envisioning. Yes, seeing him stumble and bulge as he begins to train is a blast, but it would have worked just as nicely in conjunction with more creativity. The big question here is why Pegg didn't employ his usual style after taking on Michael Ian Black's original screenplay. Black's work is always offbeat, so it would be a surprise if the lack of bite came on his end. But nonetheless, he makes this movie watchable by completely smothering this flick with his late-bloomer charm, and also proves that he is just as capable a clown as any goofball the USA has to offer.

And Schwimmer? The movie's a bit clunky and somewhat heavy-handed, which could have morphed this very run-of-the-mill film into a sitcom, save for Pegg's never-quit charm and timing, the smarm of Azaria and the warmth of Newton. Yes, it's finally time for a "Friends" pun: It's a good thing that his cast was "there for him," but was he "there for them too?" Truth be told, they didn't really need him.