A hard-partying woman receives a startling wake-up call when a visit to the doctor reveals how unhealthy she is. Motivated to lose weight, she soon takes up running to help her prepare for her ultimate goal of competing in the New York City Marathon.
Paul Downs Colaizzo’s “Brittany Runs a Marathon” is a film that attempts to defy all expectations, while simultaneously adhering to them. The result’s not shrewd, dark, empathetic or real enough to truly resonate, nor sidesplittingly hilarious enough to function as an all-out comedy. It’s significantly bolstered by its lead performance, as well as the generally amicable vibe — it means so well, it really does — but its 100-minute running time sometimes feels like enduring a 26-mile marathon.
Said marathon is the focal point of attention for Brittany (Jillian Bell). In her late-20s, she lives with self-absorbed roommate Gretchen (Alice Lee), struggling to make sense of her gradually-unraveling life. When she discovers that her BMI levels are way too high, Brittany decides to start training, along with her newly-formed, also-going-through-existential-crises friends Seth (Micah Stock) and Catherine (Michaela Watkins). She gets a second job, and even meets her potential boo, the slacker Jern (Utkarsh Ambudkar) — yet Brittany struggles with letting down her guard even more than shedding the extra pounds.
The film starts off promisingly enough, Bell – the skilled comedian that she is – firing on all cylinders, all snappy one-liners and trademark non-sequiturs. I believe the transition from laugh-out-loud comedy to a more somber affair was intentional, and though it happens smoothly, the latter 75% of the film ends up somewhat generic. Yes, it gives Bell the opportunity to showcase her dramatic chops, but it also emphasizes how much better she is than the material she’s working with.
Every character in the film is a stereotype, pawns serving a specific purpose: to drive forward the predictable plot, to be Brittany’s guiding light. Gretchen’s shallowness makes Brittany discover her own depth; Jern’s devil-may-care attitude prompts her to get her act together; Catherine’s divorce allows her to feel empathy; Seth’s willingness to go above and beyond for his child teaches her about resilience. Lessons are learned, speeches are made — the main one being eloquently given by Demetrius (Lil Rel Howery), Brittany’s surrogate father. At one point, a plus-sized girl directly addresses the camera, reiterating the fact that the film is one extended polemic against prejudice. It hides underneath layers of thickly-applied poignancy, chockfull of easy, tear-jerking moments that wouldn’t feel out of place in a Gary Marshall film, may he rest in peace.
Look, I didn’t dislike “Brittany Runs A Marathon” — and chances are, neither will you. People laughed and cried in the theater. “Gosh that was good,” a couple shared on their way out, wiping their eyes. You have to allow others to help you, Colaizzo seems to say, and then the weight and the insecurities will take care of themselves. True, but in real life, it may be a tad more difficult to conveniently have a struggling rich neighbor, a gay empathetic friend, a loving family and a handsome young man, all lined up and just dying to help.
In Theaters Friday, August 23rd
