Junior’s Rating *** out of *****

Simon Pegg, Thandie Newton, Hank Azaria, Dylan Moran, Matthew Fenton, Harish Patel

The hero of Run, Fat Boy, Run, now on DVD, is in debt, out of shape, and underemployed.  His circle of friends is a bit dodgy, his personal hygiene is questionable, and did we mention that a few years back he left his beautiful, adoring, pregnant bride standing at the altar? Why, then, do we find the character played in expert fashion by actor/writer Simon Pegg so endearingly sympathetic?  Perhaps it’s because he’s a good father to his young son, or because we identify with his quest to win back his former love.  Or maybe it’s just that we can’t stand his ex-girlfriend’s smarmy new lover and can’t bear the thought of the two of them ending up together. Whatever the reason, the loyalty of the audience is never in question as our bolting bridegroom finds himself toe to toe with his rival in the London marathon.  Run, Fat Boy, Run is a load of fun.