"Big Nothing" was a decent collaboration, but lacked punch. RFBR is much closer the mark - classic British humour all dressed up as a good comedy sports romance movie.

It looks and feels like it got Ealing Comedy in its genes - or more recently The Tall Guy from the 80's, or Steve Coogan's The Parole Officer rather than class based comedies like Four Weddings - a good small low-key British comedy, with a nice parade of eccentrics - not high concept, not too low brow, rather good old fashioned heart which it absolutely wears its heart firmly on its sleeve.

David Schwimmer seems comfortable behind the camera - our favourite scene in terms of camera was the bin fight - but overall you know what genre you watching and it doesn't require too much effort to relax and enjoy.

The plot is a simple one - Dennis (Simon Pegg) gets cold feet and literally bolts on his wedding day from his pregnant fiancée, Libby (Thandie Newton). Five years on, and life has not been good to Dennis, he's suffering from middle-aged spread, working as a rent-a-cop for a lingerie store, and living below his Indian landlord (A wonderful Harish Patel, who deserves lots more work based on this).When his son starts bonding with Libby's new man Whit (Hank Azurius),whose everything Dennis is not, and American to boot, Dennis realizes the relationship with Libby is what he cares about and the only way to beat Whit is to run the same marathon as him. Needless to say Dennis is as fit as beached whale, but where the heart will, the body doth follow.

His best friend, and unrepentant gambler Gordon (A super cynical Dylan Moran at his absolute laid back best) urges him on, partly for financial gain, and partly, well, because he enjoys seeing Dennis flounder and succeed.

Like any competent sport movie we get the training etc; but here the emphasis is on the laughs.

Of course, like any romantic comedy the pay off is sweet, and uplifting.

It doesn't have enough bite to lift it up to the echelons of classic comedy - but it works well as a small comedy - there are lots of sweet touches that pay off - but not enough belly laughs to really satisfy.

We like it a lot - the camera tells the story really well - nothing too smart, just good narrative filming. David Schwimmer definitely knows his British films - this looks and fells straight out of the genre - and you'd never guess a Yank made it - all the nuances are there. Nice.

These guys obviously like each other and we look forward to seeing more from them in the future...

Recommended as a good small British comedy.

If you are a fan of Simon Pegg because of films like SEAN OF THE DEAD or HOT FUZZ, then you might be a bit disappointed in this film. It isn't that it's a bad film but that the style is so different and it really isn't nearly as funny as these two previous films. In addition, this is certainly not a movie I would have wanted to see in the theaters, but it's more of a movie to rent or watch if you happen to have Showtime. In other words, it's a pleasant little time-passer...just not much more.

The story is about a cowardly jerk that left his pregnant girlfriend at the alter. This and the first 1/3 of the film really make you hate Pegg--he is very unlikable. Selfish and whiny--as well as cowardly. It's also hard not to turn off the film because he's such a jerk. However, soon after his ex-girlfriend introduces her new boyfriend (Hank Azaria),Pegg is filled with jealousy--especially when Pegg's son seems to perhaps like the new guy more than him. So, just to keep up, Pegg announces that he, too, will be running in a charity marathon--even though it's only two weeks until the race and Pegg is really out of shape.

What happens next and how Pegg's character grows is all straight by-the-numbers. There are absolutely no surprises here at all, though the ride along the way is pleasant. And, when "Mr. Perfect" (Azaria) blows up near the end and shows his dark side, this, too, seemed quite predictable. But, the characters are endearing (particularly Pegg's Indian neighbor) and the film has a nice feel, so you can't help but finish the film--and perhaps end it with a smile. However, don't expect any magic or major surprises.

Dennis Doyle (Simon Pegg) is a lazy scared loser. He leaves his pregnant fiancée Libby (Thandie Newton) in a case of runaway groom. Five years later, he's a store security guard still trying to get back together with Libby. They have a kid Jake. She has a new successful boyfriend Whit (Hank Azaria). Dennis is still unreliable. Whit tells him that he's doing the Nike River run. Dennis decides to do the run to prove something to Libby. The problem is that he's horribly unfit.

This is marginally likable only because of Simon Pegg. The problem is that director David Schwimmer and writers Michael Ian Black and Simon Pegg fail to get anywhere particularly funny. Sure it has Hank Azaria flashing Pegg. But Schwimmer can't quite make it funny. Pegg probably misses Nick Frost as his sidekick. He needs a buddy for a buddy comedy. There are some cute training scenes. The crude American humor is too obvious. Pegg seems to struggle with those. Considering the talent, this should be much better.