RUN, FAT BOY, RUN
A funny, heartfelt second chance—for discerning adults only.
Should You Watch It?
RUN, FAT BOY, RUN is a well-made romantic comedy with a generous heart. Simon Pegg makes Dennis, a lazy and out-of-shape loser, sympathetic and appealing. The story is funny, heartwarming, and ultimately inspiring, especially as Dennis shows that he loves his son and still cares for Libby.
The movie also has a real cost for family audiences. It includes strong foul language, off-color humor, sexual content, nudity, and other PG-13 material. Dennis’s rash around his private area is played for comedy, but it is not suitable for every viewer.
If you are a discerning adult looking for a date movie and can accept those concerns, this is worth seeing. For children and young teens, choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESDennis is a London security guard who left his pregnant girlfriend, Libby, at the altar. Five years later, he is out of shape, often late, and struggling to get his life together while spending time with their son, Jake.
When Dennis learns that Libby’s new boyfriend, Whit, is a fit marathon runner, Dennis decides to enter the same charity marathon. He hopes the race will help him win Libby back and prove himself as a father.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this film succeeds strongly as entertainment. It is hilarious and heartwarming, with a story that becomes funny and inspiring without losing its emotional center.
David Schwimmer does a great job as a first-time director, letting the story speak for itself. Simon Pegg gives a particularly strong performance, making Dennis sympathetic and appealing. The movie also makes Whit’s seemingly perfect competence feel too good to be true, giving Dennis’s struggles a relatable comic contrast.
The Worldview
The film presents a light, slightly mixed moral worldview with romantic and humanist elements. It values love, family, perseverance, and personal change. Dennis is flawed, but his love for his son and continued care for Libby make him sympathetic.
At the same time, the film treats several questionable choices as comedy or plot material. Dennis leaves his pregnant girlfriend at the altar, a friend gambles, Dennis cheats during the race, and the story includes lying and jealousy. Sexual innuendo, alcohol, smoking, and other off-color material also shape the movie's moral atmosphere.
The film's central hope is that a flawed person can change and become worthy of love. Scripture also calls people to put away their former ways and live differently: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Light, slightly mixed, moral worldview with Romantic, humanist elements; 25 or 26 obscenities, two strong profanities, one light profanity, man mouths an “f” word which is not heard, and some scatological humor, including a popped blister and man gets a rash in his private area; light comic violence such as man gets winded chasing after a thief, wheelchair knocks man down, and father and son deliberately startle joggers for a joke, and strong comic violence in scene where two friends fight with a couple groin hits and man hits another man with a metal trash can lid; some sexual innuendoes and comments done for comedy, man running in charity marathon gets an erectile dysfunction charity at the last minute to sponsor him and bride getting married is already pregnant, plus thief seems to be a cross-dresser but the point is not emphasized; some female cleavage, rear male nudity in two scenes and upper male nudity in several scenes, including scene where one man in locker room casually strips completely in front of another man but only his nude chest is shown; alcohol use; smoking; and, a friend of the protagonist gambles, man cheats during race, lying, man leaves pregnant girlfriend at the altar, and jealousy.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Dennis wants to change after recognizing how his choices have hurt Libby and Jake. What does genuine change look like in a relationship?
Ephesians 4:22–24 · Luke 3:8Dennis loves his son but often shows up late. How do our actions demonstrate whether our priorities match our words?
1 John 3:18 · James 2:17The film includes cheating, lying, and jealousy. Why do small compromises matter, even when someone hopes to achieve a good result?
Luke 16:10 · Proverbs 12:22Dennis learns that perseverance matters when a goal seems impossible. How can faithful endurance shape your response to a difficult responsibility?
Galatians 6:9 · Hebrews 12:1The Final Word
RUN, FAT BOY, RUN is funny, warm, and genuinely encouraging, with strong performances and confident direction. Its foul language and off-color PG-13 material keep it from family audiences. For discerning adults, it is WORTH THE TRIP — ADULTS ONLY. For family viewing, consider.
