While most people seemed to like Shaun of the Dead, it left me kind of unsatisfied. OK, the first half was funny and rolled along nicely. The second half, however, seemed to be hamstrung by the fact that the story had to be told and brought to a conclusion. The humour, therefore, was sacrificed.
With Run Fatboy, Run, the trailer offered enough to make me think that Simon Pegg's latest project would go some way to restoring my faith in his ability to make me laugh.
It starts well enough, with Pegg's character, Dennis, running out on his bride (Thandie Newton) and their unborn child on his wedding day. It moves on five years, when Dennis is working a distinctly uninspiring day job as a security guard in a lingerie shop. Having realised that his former fiance is the love of his life, he sets about proving to her that he can change, using her new boyfriend, Whit's (Hank Azaria) passion for running as inspiration.
From the moment this is revealed, you can see the rest of the film rolling out before you like a carpet and you're always at least 10 minutes ahead of what's on the screen. Frankly, in cinema terms, there's nothing more irritating than a film in which you can see the twists and turns coming, as well as the gags.
How many films have come and gone with similar, if not the same, plotlines as this; guy loses girl, girl finds new guy, first guy wants girl back, girl finally discovers that second guy is not as good as he seems and realises she still loves the first guy. Yawn.
The film is directed by former Friends star, David Schwimmer and the American influence is all too evident. Where a British director may have handled an emotional climax to proceedings in a slightly down to earth and far more touching way, Schwimmer goes straight for the over-emotional, slow-motion, over-used music approach. It jars horribly with what has gone before - the simple enough story of a man, struggling to prove himself to his former fiance and his son.
On paper this could have worked as straight drama or all out comedy, but it tries to be both and it just doesn't work. Pegg's performance is too subdued and it looks like he was bursting to be funnier but was being held back. One highlight was Dylan Moran, who was as watchable as ever and provided the two laugh-out-loud moments in the film, one of which involved him being naked from the waist down. The man knows how to deliver a funny line with just the right amount of subtlety.
The bottom line is that what could have been a very funny film, is rarely so. Pegg's next project is How To Lose Friends and Alienate People, an adaptation of Toby Young's autobiographical book. Having read the book, I'm optimistic about the film's chances. I just hope Simon Pegg's undoubted talents aren't as suppressed in that film, as they were here.
Sunday, 9 September 2007
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