Review by Leonard Norwitz
Studio:
Theatrical: Material Entertainment & Picturehouse
Blu-ray: New Line Home Entertainment (Warner)
Disc:
Region: A
Runtime: 100 min
Chapters: 16
Size: 50 GB
Case: Standard Amaray Blu-ray case
Release date: September 23, 2008
Video:
Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
Resolution: 1080p
Video codec: VC-1
Audio:
English 7.1 DTS HD-Master Audio
Subtitles:
Feature: English & Spanish, Extras: English & Spanish
(on selected material)
Extras:
• Digital Copy Disc
• Commentary by Director David Schwimmer, Actors Simon
Pegg, Thandie Newton, and Gill Pegg's (Simon's mom)
• Deleted Scenes in HD (6:47)
• Outtakes in HD (7:20)
• Thandie's Goof (2:54)
• Theatrical Trailer in HD
The Film:
6
Yes, this is THE Queensian David Schwimmer of Friends
fame, making his feature film directorial debut with a
British comedy and mostly British actors, filmed in and
around London. So, should we be surprised that this
comedy, written by Chicagoan Michael Ian Black with an
assist from Simon Pegg, feels more American than
British, despite its very engagingly British lead actor,
Simon
Pegg (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz).
Matt Zoller Seitz of the NY Times is quoted on the video
cover: "Rocky by way of There's Something About Mary". I
see the connection, but Run Fatboy Run isn't nearly as
raunchy or edgy as TSAB. Quite the contrary, Run Fatboy
Run strikes me as a family film, which Mary isn't - more
along the lines of About a Boy, though not nearly as
polished or astute. The Rocky allusion is
apt - even if Schwimmer & Black think it as a kind of
Rocky arc, with its big challenge, its scrappy training
for the big event, the eggs in the blender bit, and a
heroic effort in its last reel.
Pegg plays Dennis Doyle who left his lovely fiancé
(Thandie Newton) at the altar, very pregnant. Cut to the
present, five years later. Dennis, while not fat, is
certainly lazy and irresponsible, though good natured
enough. As with his promise to get married, he tends not
to complete projects he's signed on for. He even shows
up late to pick up his son, Jake (a disarming Matthew
Fenton), whom he evidently loves, or without tickets for
the show he's promised to take him to. Dennis has a low
level job as a security guard in a lingerie shop (are
there such jobs!) and is always way behind in his rent
to Mr. Goshdashtidar (Harish Patel), whose name I sit
eagerly waiting to hear pronounced each time we see him.
But once Dennis meets Whit (a very buff Hank
Azaria), Libby's latest and most likely to succeed
boyfriend, Dennis is sent into a tailspin of jealousy –
not that he has any claim on her affections. . . except
that clearly Libby still has a place in her heart for
this self-styled loser, as many a woman whose son they
share, do.
Dennis sees his chance by entering the Nike River-Run
Marathon to demonstrate his willingness to commit to
something. Anything. Even the impossible. This is where
the movie takes off, just as it also becomes less
creditable: it isn't really possible to get into shape
to run a marathon from couch-potato-hood in only three
weeks (though the script employs a clever workaround
this difficulty). But it's the character of Whit, whose
"true" nature shows itself as Dennis starts to make his
presence known, that becomes increasingly vile. I always
find that making it too easy for the hero is never a
good sign.
BTW, I can't resist a smile at the notes on the back
cover. You know how an actor's name is often followed by
one or two movie credits - to help place them in our
minds, I would assume. Just as often, however, the
movies mentioned aren't necessarily the actor's best
work, so much as a title that the studio wants to
promote. Next to Hank Azaria's name, the cover lists one
invisible
credit: The Simpsons, which is Fox, not Warner. Go
figure.
Image:
6/8
The first number indicates a relative level of
excellence compared to other Blu-ray video discs on a
ten-point scale. The second number places this image
along the full range of DVD and Blu-ray discs.
Given the level of contrasty, oversaturated oranges and
yellows for this movie, its not very sharp picture, near
crushing blacks, and otherwise relatively
undistinguished image, we might first wonder: why
Blu-ray? Until we realize that if the Blu-ray looks like
this, what must the DVD look like? Alas, I can't say for
certain, having no sample to compare. But, seeing as how
the both the BRD and the DVD are being released
simultaneously, it is likely that there are drawn from
the same master, which means that the DVD is likely to
be, by comparison, insufferable. Bit rates average in
the low 30s.
Audio & Music:
7/7
Given the nature of this movie, what we expect and
require is a clear, well positioned dialogue track and
supportive music that never overwhelms, and occasional
ambiance that never misdirects. These, it has.
Operations:
7
The menu layout for Deception is, considering the title,
surprisingly uncomplicated, which I found something of a
relief. The chapter thumbnails do not expand, they are,
however, titled. The special features are not timed.
Extras:
5
The commentary should be considered as a sort of laugh
track for the movie, as Simon, Thandie and David
reminisce about the making of the movie, with an
occasional aside from Simon's mom. Most unusually for HD
videos, the deleted scenes are shown in high quality HD.
The bit titled "Thandie's Goof" (in squarish 480i) isn't
a goof at all, but a practical joke. Apparently, the
tidy Ms. Newton has quite the sense of humor. The
packaging includes a Digital Copy disc to round off the
Extras.
Bottom line:
6
Run Fatboy Run is a pleasant enough, if uninventive
comedy. What's missing is the romance. There's more
between Dennis and his son than between Libby and anyone
else, through no fault of hers. I had a good time, but I
don't imagine the movie has much repeatability factor.
Leonard Norwitz
September 20th, 2008