Trade Show Guru

Ok, I figure since I said I’d review Run Fatboy Run (2007) a few weeks ago as my first movie review, I’d better get it done before I write another post about trade show marketing or see any more movies. I saw Iron Man a few days ago, and during the first half of the movie I though I might write about it first. It had a great beginning, unlike most of the comic-book-to-movie releases that have disappointed me, but then it became “just ok” in the second half and thus won’t get my “Two Thumbs Up” rating. But anyway, back to Run Fatboy Run.

From the Netflix movie description summary:
“Five years ago, Dennis (Simon Pegg) left his pregnant fiancée, Libby (Thandie Newton), at the altar. Now, he realizes it was the worst mistake of his life. Run down and out of shape, Dennis begins training for a marathon, hoping to win Libby away from her sleazy new boyfriend (Hank Azaria). Will losing the pounds and catching his breath be enough to get her back? Dylan Moran co-stars in David Schwimmer’s feature directorial debut.”

Why I liked it:
1. I’d never heard of it (my wife put it in our Netflix queue), and had low expectations. I usually like movies better when I have a low expectation and they end up being good or even great, than when I have a high expectation and they end up being good or even great. They may still great in the later case, but I like to be surprised.
2. It’s a classic “feel good” movie, and I like to feel good.
3. It’s a British movie, and I like British accents.
4. They didn’t spend a fortunate making it, and I appreciate when movie makers are successful with good acting and a quality script instead of relying on a multi-million-dollar, blockbuster budget and lots of special effect (don’t get me wrong, I like special effects, but there needs to be more to the movie than just that).
5. Simon Pegg does an awesome job of playing the lovable loser, Dennis, who you end up rooting for. As an aside, he does a great job of playing a wheezing, out-of-shape character, which is important since he’ll have to run a marathon. He even has a pudgy beer belly. As an aside, perhaps he should have read RT Cunningham’s (the Master of the Philippines) post about his fat belly. Apparently Tim (the King Of The Rednecks at the Redneck Bar and Grill) did, and lost 40 pounds. True story!  Anyway, back to the review…
6. The scene where he, his brother, and his landlord are petitioning a charity to sponsor him (the only way to get into the marathon) is simply HILLARIOUS. I laughed so hard I nearly started to cry. That scene alone is worth watching the movie.
7. Run Fatboy Run has a happy ending. I don’t watch movies to see depressing reality (did anyone ever see Silkwood?). I like a traditional Hollywood ending.

So there you go. If you want to see a feel good movie where you root for the lovable loser, who wins in the end, then see Run Fatboy Run.

So what’s my next movie review? Well, at some point I need to write about King Corn, unless I see another Two Thumbs Up movie in the meantime.