Run Fatboy Run

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.

I'm not fat! I'm just... unfit...

Dennis Doyle (Simon Pegg) is a clueless and slightly overweight Man Child who left his pregnant fiancée Libby (Thandie Newton) at the altar five years earlier. He constantly tries to persuade the woman he loves to accept him back into her life, but when he discovers that Libby has found a new partner in the form of American Whit (Hank Azaria), frustration grows, and Dennis vows that for once in his life, he will finish something. This something ends up being the Nike River Run in London. With his friend Gordon (Dylan Moran) and landlord Mr. Goshdashtidar by his side, Dennis begins training for the marathon he must finish to win the respect of both Libby, and himself.

Tropes used in Run Fatboy Run include:

Reporter: Sir! Sir! How do you feel?
Dennis: (in tears, barely cognizant) How the fuck do you think I feel?!

  • Blackmail: When Dennis refuses Maya's ultimatum to kick him out if he quits the race and pay his back rent if he doesn't, she whips away his Modesty Towel and takes a polaroid of his naked body. "Deal?" "...Deal."
  • Cranky Landlord: Played with; Mr. G is a cheerful, forgiving type, but his daughter Maya takes it upon herself to chase Dennis up for the rent.
  • Cheaters Never Prosper: Whit trips Dennis up, only to be sent to hospital himself while Dennis limps on, and later to get caught out by an action replay.
  • Consequence Combo: There are a lot of carrots and sticks in play, but the clearest example of the trope is Maya's ultimatum - if Dennis finishes the race, she'll call off his back rent. If he doesn't, she'll kick him out.
  • Derailing Love Interests: Whit, who starts off The Ace and gets gradually more Control Freaky and competitive in direct contrast to Dennis getting more responsible and mature.
  • Down to the Last Play: Hugely averted. Whit is taken out of the race very early, and Dennis severely injured, and the rest of the marathon is spent limping in last place, determined to finish. All of which makes Jake's "dad, you won!" utterly heartwarming.
  • Enforced Method Acting: in the scene where Simon Pegg and Hank Azaria are talking in the locker room, Simon's shocked reaction to Hank dropping his towel was very real. Apparently, Hank was supposed to wear a modesty patch over his genitals, but it didn't fit, so he did the scene without it.
  • Excited Show Title!!
  • The Family for the Whole Family: A low-rent London Gangster who appears to run a betting syndicate and fence stolen goods, who nearly breaks Gordon's hand in a piano lid, and who when his bet is threatened hijacks a taxi, drives to the race and... runs alongside Dennis taunting him and ineffectually trying to trip him up. Lampshaded after Mr. G rescues Gordon from the piano incident;

Mr. G.: Your friend is man of honour. He promised to beat shit out of you later!

Libby: You can't even finish your sentence!
Dennis: Oh... don't... don't... don't be... what's the word?