BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON – Review

We may be almost past swimsuit season (at least in the northern half of the US), but it’s never too late to get moving and get healthy. And though those New Year’s resolutions are several months away, that goal’s on the mind of this new movie’s title heroine (who just happens to be based on a real person…but don’t let that deter you). Another big motivator is the big event in the title. And yes, the flick covers all the dieting, training, and various ‘prep’ work, but it’s really about so much more. As the ads promise this story is very funny at times, propelled by the talents of a most captivating comedy actress, but there’s more to this than pratfalls and slapstick. This is a story of a woman who wants to do more than win the race or even just cross the finish line. She needs to get moving in order to move her life forward, to bust out of a life-stalling rut. That’s the main reason why BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON.

But when we first meet Brittany (Jillian Bell) she and her life are at a standstill. She barely makes her rent as a ticket taker/assistant manager at an off, way off-Broadway theatre. Luckily she shares a grungy, funky little walk-up apartment with aspiring “social media influencer” Gretchen (Alice Lee). Brittany spends too many nights with Gretchen and her pals boozing at bars and clubs, waking the next day with a killing hangover and a numbing shame over degrading anonymous “hook-ups”. But she has a “wake up call” via her latest physical. Doc Falloway (Patch Darragh), much to Brit’s humiliation, bluntly tells her that she’s dangerously overweight and out of shape. After deciding against joining a gym (“Starting at $129 a month?! Starting?!!”), she decides to begin jogging. When she retreats to her apartment after a humiliating first run, her whimpers get the attention of annoying upstairs neighbor “Moneybags Martha” AKA Catherine (Michaela Watkins). After some needed, though unwanted, encouragement, she convinces Britany to join her morning “runners’ club”. There she befriends another struggling jogger, married dad Seth (Micah Stock). Eventually the trio bond, and after a few short races, decides to try for the big New York City marathon the next November. But there are fees involved, so Brittany grabs a second job as a “dog-sitter” during the day for a rich couple enjoying a long vacation. Perfect, until the “night-sitter”, a fast-talking hustler named (really) Jern (Utkarsh Ambudkar) decides to move in, 24-7. But Brittany is determined to make the race while fighting her attraction to him. But can she stay “on track” and keep her eyes on the goal (that finish line) when life tosses countless hurdles and obstacles in her path? She’s gotta’ keep moving forward.

This true tale provides the near-perfect showcase for the considerable talents of Ms. Bell. In the last few years she’s easily stolen scenes (sometimes the entire flick) in 22 JUMP STREET, THE NIGHT BEFORE, and ROUGH NIGHT (as a zany “party girl” with a nice dramatic “backstory”). Here she ably carries the film, turning what could have been another “one-note” klutzy “cut-up’ into one of this year’s most complex characters. Brittany’s no comic cliche’. Sure she’s quite funny (I’m thinking her pre-show chatter at her theatre gig is much better than the play), but we soon see her ‘dark side’ in the club sequence that switches gears from hilarity to true sadness. Yes, we’re quickly “rooting” for her, but Bell is constantly catching us “off guard”. We see the disgust in her eyes as she glances at a mirror while reaching for a “munchkin”. Then her self-loathing will strike out at others who try to help. Minutes later Bell will show us the “softer” side of Britt as she begins to thaw and flirts with Jern (oh, that pesky stiff neck). The character’s “downward spiral” crashes to a sickening thud as Brit pummels a party guest with cruel verbal stiletto-like jabs (all while Bell gives her a dead-eyed stare). Bell is endearing and frustrating as she often sabotages several attempts at emotional intimacy. Britt isn’t just a female version of the “frat-boy man-child” who suddenly straightens up (and grows up). There are real consequences to her actions. Bravo to Bell for bucking the notion that a film’s heroine must be pleasant and “nice” at all times. And kudos to her amazing range in this, the first of many, lead role.

Ah, but she’s not the “whole show’ (or I should say “race”). Watkins makes an excellent screen sparing partner, giving us a woman who seems to have it “all”, but is battling demons of the past and present. She’s a powerful positive force in Britt’s corner as is Stock whose Seth could easily have been that “rom-com” cliche ultra-supportive gay pal of the heroine. Yes, he’s there for her, but he endures the pain for his husband and son (with maybe another child if he stays healthy). Ambudkar is a comedic whirlwind as Jern, who he plays with just the right amounts of snark and endearing “boyishness” (love his defense of TV cartoons). He’s exasperating and charming (often at the same time). Lee as roommate Gretchen has a couple of terrific ‘throw-downs’ with Bell when she goes from encouraging to threatened by Britt’s goals (she thinks it’s really a mean dig at her). And speaking of “scene stealers”, the man who purloined GET OUT, Lil Rel Howery shines again as Britt’s brother-in-law (who’s more of a surrogate daddy) offering encouragement from Brit’s hometown of Philly via Skype calls (and later in-person). Oh, and hats off to current SNL cast member Mikey Day for his very funny cameo as the gym salesman.

This is quite an impressive screen debut from director/writer Paul Downs Colaizzo who finds the correct balance of comedy and pathos. His script doesn’t feel “jokey”, as it never hits a false note. He truly makes Brittany an “everywoman”, a character that most women, and men, can identify (or at least see in a friend or relative). Colaizzo finds a most clever way to visualize modern electronics, even using a split-screen to show Britt’s reaction to a downloaded image. This works particularly well as Jern helps her fill out an online form on a dating site (nice, clean animated graphics). He makes some good visuals choice as Brit imagines being in that big race using one solid color around her. Certainly, there are clever discussions of body image and shaming, but it’s equally sharp about the emotional issues. Brittany needs to get healthy in her psyche, too. She has to run towards, and not away from, adulthood, committing and following through on a “life plan”. these goals, rather than the medal, are what make BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON a truly compelling journey that truly “goes the distance”, along with the wonderful work of Ms. Bell.

3.5 Out of 4

BRITTANY RUNS A MARATHON opens everywhere and screens exclusively in the St Louis area at Landmark’s Tivoli Theatre and the Hi-Pointe Theatre