British actor Simon Pegg was virtually unknown to American moviegoers a few short years ago. But that was before Shaun of the Dead. He was the star and co-writer of this 2004 low-budget zombie comedy. The movie captured a small, but devoted band of fans, and, suddenly mainstream audiences took notice.
Last year, Pegg returned with Hot Fuzz, an inspired comic take on the buddy cop movie. And this spring, he is back again in the romantic comedy Run Fatboy Run.
But the latest wave of film humor from our British cousins has been a breath of fresh air. Lately, American comedies all seem to be lame parodies, teen gross-out movies or family road trips gone awry. So it has been refreshing to see new life breathed into some tired formulas.
Unfortunately, the latest effort, Run Fatboy Run, is the weakest. This time Pegg was without his trusted British collaborators. He teamed with American Michael Ian Black on the script and former "Friend" David Schwimmer directed. Is it the fault of the Yanks? Could be. But for whatever reason, Fatboy lacked the magic of Pegg's earlier efforts.
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Shaun (Pegg) is the slacker manager of an appliance store who just can't seem to get his life together, especially his relationships with his girlfriend, his best friend and his mum. But when the undead take over London and try to feast on the living, Shaun has to summon up the courage to lead his small band of survivors to the safety of the neighborhood pub and mend relationships with those he loves along the way.
Pegg, director and co-writer Edgar Wright and co-star Nick Frost infused a familiar genre with a full-blown British sense of humor. There are tea breaks in the midst of escaping the zombies, Shaun wields a cricket paddle to fend off the attackers, and the climactic scene takes place in a pub. But what made the picture a breakout hit was its single-minded dedication to comic absurdity. Maybe not every joke works, but there were more than enough sight gags, silliness and slapstick to go around.
At the same time, "Shaun" kept the horror element front and center. The filmmakers made sure you jump out of your skin on a regular basis, and there was gore aplenty. But the genius was in mixing the horror and the comedy. In pulling off this unlikely marriage, Pegg and his team succeeded.
Hot Fuzz (2007)
Pegg and Wright followed up Shaun of the Dead with Hot Fuzz, another comic poke at an established movie genre, this time the action/adventure movie about two cops who are polar opposites.
Pegg played Nicholas Angel, quite simply the world's greatest police officer. By the book, obsessed, serious, he's the ultimate crime fighter. And that's the problem. His fellow officers in the London police force decide he's making them all look bad, so he gets shipped off to fight crime in the most remote outpost in the English countryside.
He is teamed with a bumbling Danny Butterman (Nick Frost, Pegg's sidekick in "Shaun") and comes up against the most do-nothing police force ever. But in a town where there is no crime, a string of mysterious accidents arouses Angel's suspicions.
The potential for humor between the old-school cop and the laid-back villagers was predictable, but Pegg and crew made the most of it, including a surprising supporting role by former James Bond actor, Timothy Dalton. Then the movie took an unexpected turn into the action genre it's been spoofing all along. The final act was an amazing balancing act between humor and an over-the-top shoot-em-up.
Some may have passed over this picture because of its title, but they would have missed one of last year's comic gems. It's hilarious.
Run Fatboy Run (2008)
The third time was not the charm with Run Fatboy Run. Pegg goes back to playing a loser, Dennis, who can't commit to his true love. As the movie opens, he leaves his pregnant bride-to-be, Libby (Thandie Newton), at the altar and flees in terror. Five years later, he's in a dead-end job, behind on his rent, alienated from his young son, and watching Newton fall for American rich guy Whit (Hank Azaria).
Dennis realizes he must get a grip. How to go about that? How about resort to a familiar clichÈ and run in a marathon? With only three weeks until the race, Dennis decides that the race will be the way he wins back both his life and Libby.
The sight of an overweight Dennis trying to get into shape for the marathon is predictable and not all that funny. Tripping while jumping rope, lifting tiny weights, developing the world's largest blister-none of them really work. If anything, the movie gets better when it tries to be heartwarming as opposed to funny.
Run Fatboy Run should have been the movie that helped Pegg break through to a broader American audience. But the spark that fueled his two earlier hits failed to ignite. The uninhibited comic touches of "Shaun" and "Fuzz" felt forced this time, and Pegg didn't quite connect as a romantic leading man.
Hopefully, this won't be the last we'll hear from Simon Pegg. Perhaps a few cups of tea and a little more time spent with his British mates, and he'll be back in top form. In the meantime, if you want to see them at the top of their game, rent Hot Fuzz.
When he's not reviewing films, Tim Hill is a public relations consultant and occasional movie extra. He can be contacted at timhill@insightbb.com.