Year of Release: 2019
Director: Paul Downs Colaizo
Starring: Jillian Bell, Michaela Watkins, Micah Stock, Alice Lee, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Lil Rel Howery, Kate Arrington, Esteban Benito, Dan Bittner, Patch Darragh, Jennifer Dundas, Gina Costigan
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6
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Synopsis and Review:
"Brittany Runs a Marathon" is the debut feature from Paul Downs Colaizo, and made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award, and quickly got bought for distribution by Amazon. The film follows the story of Brittany, a 28 year old young woman, originally from Philadelphia, currently living in Queens and barely making a living with her job in Manhattan. Brittany parties frequently, has lost most of her ambition, and in the pursuit of some extra party enhancers, visits a doctor, who warns her she has the potential to have some serious health problems. Brittany decides to change her life, lose 50 pounds and train for the New York marathon. Along the way she inspires and becomes acquainted with a few running friends who become a good support system for her. As her life choices change, some of her friends are less impressed by her newfound self esteem, and though Brittany has issues of her own with relationships and even friendships, she eventually comes to terms with opening up to others.
"Brittany Runs a Marathon" is a romantic comedy, where our heroine goes through a journey of self discovery, which includes of course, hitting rock bottom, only to come to terms with loving herself, and embarking on a journey to reinvigorate herself and her life. The film, and its formula, aren't profoundly different from everything else that has been done or seen in this genre, however, the film has a charm mostly derived from the eclectic cast that the director has assembled, alongside the fact that it doesn't attempt to overly glamorize life in a big metropolis. Whereas Todd Strauss-Schulson's "Isn't It Romantic" attempted to deconstruct the clichés of romantic comedies, this one paints them with just enough of a broad stroke to make the film balance the feel of romance with a dash of reality, namely of the difficulties (and costs) of living in a big city. Jillian Bell plays Brittany perfectly, with enough humor, but also defensiveness, due to her past, her own insecurities, giving the character an arc where Brittany learns to accept herself and others in her life. It's a sweet film, that while not profoundly original, is still entertaining and well acted. Worth watching.
"Brittany Runs a Marathon" is a romantic comedy, where our heroine goes through a journey of self discovery, which includes of course, hitting rock bottom, only to come to terms with loving herself, and embarking on a journey to reinvigorate herself and her life. The film, and its formula, aren't profoundly different from everything else that has been done or seen in this genre, however, the film has a charm mostly derived from the eclectic cast that the director has assembled, alongside the fact that it doesn't attempt to overly glamorize life in a big metropolis. Whereas Todd Strauss-Schulson's "Isn't It Romantic" attempted to deconstruct the clichés of romantic comedies, this one paints them with just enough of a broad stroke to make the film balance the feel of romance with a dash of reality, namely of the difficulties (and costs) of living in a big city. Jillian Bell plays Brittany perfectly, with enough humor, but also defensiveness, due to her past, her own insecurities, giving the character an arc where Brittany learns to accept herself and others in her life. It's a sweet film, that while not profoundly original, is still entertaining and well acted. Worth watching.
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