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PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database.
Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
Run Fatboy Run (2007)

Run Fatboy Run (2007)

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Released 9-Jul-2008

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Details At A Glance

General Extras
Category Romantic Comedy Menu Animation & Audio
Audio Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Outtakes
Theatrical Trailer
Rating Rated M
Year Of Production 2007
Running Time 96:05
RSDL / Flipper RSDL (64:56) Cast & Crew
Start Up Ads Then Menu
Region Coding 4 Directed By David Schwimmer
Studio
Distributor

Roadshow Home Entertainment
Starring Simon Pegg
Thandie Newton
Hank Azaria
Dylan Moran
Harish Patel
India de Beaufort
Matthew Fenton
Case ?
RPI ? Music Alex Wurman


Video Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame None English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s)
English Dolby Digital 2.0 (224Kb/s)
English Audio Commentary Dolby Digital 2.0 (224Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio 2.35:1
16x9 Enhancement
16x9 Enhanced
Video Format 576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio 2.35:1 Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures No
Subtitles English for the Hearing Impaired
English Audio Commentary
Smoking No
Annoying Product Placement Yes, Just do it!
Action In or After Credits No

NOTE: The Profanity Filter is ON. Turn it off here.

Plot Synopsis

Simon Pegg has starred in a couple of extremely funny and popular films, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. Unfortunately, this film does not continue that trend. Whilst it is not unamusing it is very clichéd and just feels flat and lifeless. It is really not Pegg's fault completely but he did have a hand in rewriting the script to move the action from Los Angeles to London. More blame should probably be put at the door of David Schwimmer (yes the Friends one) who directed this film.

The story of Run Fatboy Run involves Dennis Doyle (Pegg) who in the opening scene runs away from his wedding just before the ceremony, leaving his beautiful pregnant bride-to-be, Libby (Thandie Newton) to look after herself. Five years later he is unhappy and unfit, working as a security guard in a women's lingerie shop. He still sees his son and pines for Libby. She, naturally enough, has not forgiven him and doesn't want him back. Into this setting comes the new man in Libby's life, American hedge fund manager, Whit (Hank Azaria). He is a bit of a prat, a lot of a show-off and a fitness freak. He is in training for an upcoming marathon called the Nike River Run (product placement anyone?). Dennis, of course, gets annoyed by Hank's presence muscling in on his son and the woman that he loves. In order to prove that he can change, he decides to train for the marathon himself. His friend (and Libby's cousin) Gordon (Dylan Moran) provides him with motivation mostly driven by his own bet that Dennis will finish the race.

As I mentioned above this was originally written as a story based in Los Angeles and when a British production company decided to make it, Simon Pegg rewrote the script to base it in London. Some elements of the story don't really work in the London setting and the story generally is a bit light-on and somewhat clichéd. Despite this there are certainly some funny moments usually involving Simon Pegg and Dylan Moran. Hank Azaria is sadly wasted in this film, his role doesn't really suit him to my mind. Moran pretty much plays his normal character ala Black Books. Stylistically this film lurches between standard romantic comedy and the style of Pegg and Moran which ultimately means it is nether one nor the other. This disc includes an unskippable piracy warning and some trailers before the menu.

Unfortunately I struggle to recommend this film unless you are desperate for a romantic comedy on a rainy evening at the video store and are in need of a few low-key laughs.

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Transfer Quality

Video

The video quality is very good with no major issues to report.

The feature is presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio, 16x9 enhanced, which is the original aspect ratio.

The picture was quite clear and sharp, although it sometimes showed a little softness in backgrounds, with no evidence of low level noise. There was some light grain occasionally.

The colour was very good with no issues to report.

From an artefacts perspective there was some edge enhancement here and there but it was not too obvious.

There are subtitles on this disc; English for the Hearing Impaired. They are clear and easy to read. Subtitles are also available for the commentary.

The layer change occurs at 64:56 and caused a minor audio dropout.


Video Ratings Summary
Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

The audio quality is very good but the 5.1 mix is probably a little too surround focused for the style of film.

This DVD contains an English Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack encoded at 448 Kb/s, an English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo soundtrack encoded at 224 Kb/s and the English Commentary in English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo encoded at 224 Kb/s.

Dialogue was mostly clear and easy to understand and there was no problem with audio sync. The dialogue was perhaps a little low in the mix but generally was not an issue.

The songs and music by Alex Wurman were mixed too loud in the 5.1 track, especially during montage sequences.

The surround speakers were used a lot and stood out too much for my liking considering the film's style.

The subwoofer added a little bass to the music and added thumps, thuds and heartbeats occasionally.

Audio Ratings Summary
Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Extras

A small selection of extras are included.

Menu

The menu design is well done, featuring the best scenes from the film and a nice foot-shaped cursor design.

Commentary - Director David Schwimmer, Simon Pegg, Thandie Newton & Simon Pegg's Mum

Decent but unexciting commentary where they discuss locations, the rewrite, goofs, casting and shooting issues. Some stories and anecdotes are also included..

Deleted Scenes (6:56)

There are some bits here which should have been left in the film and others which should not even have been included as deleted scenes. Optional commentary from Schwimmer is fairly uninteresting. 16x9 enhanced.

Outtakes (6:28)

Fairly amusing but a lot of this seems very similar to the film. 16x9 enhanced.

Goof (2:52)

Footage of a boring practical joke before a promotional interview. 4x3.

Trailer (2:27)

16x9 enhanced. A generic trailer for the film

R4 vs R1

NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.

This film does yet seem to be available in Region 1. There is a Region 2 release but I can't find any details.

Summary

A disappointing trans-Atlantic romantic comedy.

The video quality is very good.

The audio quality is very good.

The disc has a small selection of average quality extras.

Ratings (out of 5)

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

© Daniel Bruce (Do you need a bio break?)
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Review Equipment
DVDPioneer DV667A DVD-V DVD-A SACD, using Component output
DisplaySony FD Trinitron Wega KV-AR34M36 80cm. Calibrated with Digital Video Essentials (PAL). This display device is 16x9 capable. This display device has a maximum native resolution of 576i (PAL)/480i (NTSC).
Audio DecoderBuilt in to amplifier/receiver. Calibrated with Video Essentials.
AmplificationPioneer VSX-511
SpeakersMonitor Audio Bronze 2 (Front), Bronze Centre & Bronze FX (Rears) + Sony SAW2500M Subwoofer

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