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it doesn't even seem to try. The original screenplay was written by comedian and actor Michael Ian Black, and was then revised by star Pegg, who set it in London (it was originally New York) and tweaked it to fit with his own comedic sensibilities. But...very rarely does it even seem to be attempting to go for big laughs. There are two scenes I can think of: one in which Whit drops his towel in the locker room in front of Dennis (okay, pretty funny), and another involving a large blister that tonally veers way off; somewhere into the land of gross-out comedy, except without the comedy.
Will Dennis run the marathon successfully, become a real man, and win Libby back? I wouldn't dare give anything away, but I will say I kept hoping he didn't. There's just no way he deserves her. Why couldn't the New Boyfriend for once turn out to be a normal, well-adjusted guy? Why can't Dennis face his past mistakes and accept them, and find love elsewhere, maybe with the landlord's cute daughter?
It's worth noting that David Schwimmer of Friends directed this. He does a good job: the film is colorful and light, and he seems content and comfortable with making a simple, feel-good comedy. With a better script, he would've succeeded.
Movie Grade: C
Synopsis:
Five years ago Dennis (Simon Pegg) was at the altar about to marry Libby (Thandie Newton), his pregnant fiancée. He got cold feet and ran for the hills and he's been going in circles ever since. When Dennis discovers Libby's hooked up with high-flying-go-getter Whit (Hank Azaria), he realizes it's now or never. He enters a marathon to show he's more than a quitter but then finds out just how much sweat, strain and tears it takes to run for 26 miles. Nobody gives him a chance but Dennis knows this is his only hope to more than a running joke.
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