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Summary:
An underachiever all his life, Dennis leaves his pregnant fiance at the alter (leaving THANDIE NEWTON?! Shyeaaah, right!). Five years later, he still has a soft spot for her, and loves his son. Turns out Libby has a new boyfriend, who's not only successful, but also handsome and physically fit, possessing everything that Dennis couldn't provide for her.
Dennis decides to run a charity marathon to prove to Libby that he does have what it takes to win her back.

Review:
A "cute", "safe" little comedy that does what it intends to do. It makes the viewer feel good about life, and cheer for the underdog. Thankfully, a decent amount of laughs come with the bubble gum drama.
I couldn't believe that Dennis would leave Thandie Newton. That's just plain impossible. It's a further surprise to see how she was "out of the game" for five years, not finding someone else to go steady with that whole time. I don't get it. No, way, man! Hank Azaria was pretty funny, and he looks pretty darned fit when he's powdering his twig and berries in the men's room. I like the guy, and he has always had a good sense of comedy.
Those who have seen Shaun of the Dead will recognize the asshole boyfriend David from that movie as Pegg's best friend in this one. The dude's funny. He needs more roles in funny movies! I could do without the bum shots.
India de Beaufort... WOW! I was hoping that they'd allow an in focus shot of her beauty in close-up for more than 3 seconds. I wouldn't have minded a full 10 seconds to drink up her hotness. I left feeling as if I only had a quick glimpse as a teaser to something better if I'd only put another quarter in the machine. Darnit.

The movie itself is too simplistic for my tastes. Boy leaves girl, wants her back. Girl finds new man, boy tries to win her back. New man turns out to be a jerk. Girl chooses boy again. Sorry if I ruined it for you, but I really doubt that you couldn't figure this out from FRAME ONE. It's not about the conclusion more than about the journey itself. I'm happy to say that this journey is littered with decent laughs, and is energetic and involving enough to make it worth sitting through. The actual marathon itself is the weakest part of the movie. I do NOT see how Dennis could complete a marathon after less than a month of training. Not only that, the circumstance that caused him to make the whole city root for his completion is one of those things that I hate in ANY movie. However, I loved listening to the reporter squeal "BASTARD!!"

Fatboy is one of those cutesy romcoms which provide an unrealistic view of life and happiness, but I will not say that it's bad. The story is TOO cheery and charming for my tastes. I prefer a comedy that doesn't follow the rules so predictably, easily justifying the reasons for the girl to leave her new boyfriend that is just too good to be true, and all those other things that these kinds of movies follow through with... but it's still worth checking out if you know that's what you're getting into.

GRADE:  B-

Reviewed: 4/3/08