The TV Addict 

Hollywood has been making films about true-stories for a long time, a lot of them adapted from non-fiction books falling into the categories of traditional histories, biographies, or memoirs. Lately though the film industry seems to be developing a new spin on an old habit. They’re now going after a slightly different breed of non-fiction books, specifically self-help books and very unique, arguably non-traditional memoirs. Most surprisingly, in a lot of cases they seem to be only using the original books as nothing more than springing boards to turn it all into something that more or less resembles an original, fiction film.

This year alone we’re getting HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU, a self-help dating book that has been turned into star-studded romantic comedy. Then there’s HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS AND ALIENATE PEOPLE, which looks like it’s been turned into a fish-out-of-water, Ben Stiller type comedy starring Simon Pegg and Kirsten Dunset. Finally, we have MARLEY & ME, a book that was essentially a memoir of a disobedient dog that has now not only merited a feel good dramedy, but the casting of Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson.

So what gives? Is Hollywood genuinely trying to do something different, or is this just another example of the industry digging deeper and deeper to avoid coming up with anything original? Do you guys (especially those familiar with the books in question) like how Hollywood seems to going the “inspired by” approach with the original source materials?

RUN FAT BOY RUN won’t show you anything you haven’t seen before. It’s conventional, and it’s predictable enough that you’ll see every plot point coming a mile away, and everything that happens isn’t even remotely unexpected. The thing is, sometimes there’s nothing wrong with being derivative.

The basic story should be familiar by now in the glut of “slacker man-boys need to grow up” films we’re getting these days. Five years ago Dennis (Simon Pegg) got cold-feet and left pregnant Libby (Thandie Newton) on the day of their wedding, and now he’s behind in his rent, slightly overweight, and working as a security guard at a lingerie store. He’s still in touch with Libby on account of his relationship with their son, Jake, and desperate to get her back. Problem is a seemingly perfect American suitor named Whit (Hank Azaria) seems poised to ruin the opportunity. So Dennis makes it his intention to hinder the new couple, and prove himself to Libby. So when he finds out Whit is running in a 26 km marathon for charity, he aims to do the same to show he isn’t a quitter who runs away from anything that is difficult anymore.

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