Brittany Runs a Marathon Review
R: for language throughout, sexuality and some drug material
Studios: Amazon Studios, Material Pictures, Picture Films
Run Time: 1 Hr and 43 Minutes
Writer/Dir: Paul Downs Colaizzo
Cast: Jillian Bell, Michaela Watkins, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Lil Rel Howery, Micah Stock, Alice Lee
Release Date: August 23, 2019
Brittany Forgler is a funny, likeable, 27-year-old hot mess of a New Yorker whose trashy nightclub adventures and early-morning walks of shame make her late for work every day. But when she stops by a Yelp-recommended doctor’s office in an attempt to score Adderall, Brittany gets handed a series of diagnoses instead—elevated heart rate, high blood pressure … the list goes on. Suddenly forced to get a grip, Brittany laces up her Converse sneakers and runs one sweaty block. The next day, she runs two. Soon she runs a mile. Brittany finally has direction—but is she on the right path?
Actress Jillian Bell has always been typecast in comedies as the unlikable and annoying comic relief who is vulgar and obnoxious. The only role which she was able to be a lovable character in was in the series Workaholics. But as far as films go, she is never given the chance to shine outside of being a one note character. Bell is a funny actress but her roles always downplay her abilities. With Brittany Runs a Marathon, Bell finally rings in her name with a groundbreaking role in which she delivers a spectacular performance. The dialogue she’s given is consistently funny and, with her impeccable comedic timing, she delivers nothing but hard-bellied laughs from beginning to end. Bell’s transformation through the film as the story progresses is complete dedication. While she admitted to using a bodysuit and prosthetics, you the transformation was still real. By being a part of this movie, she actually was inspired to lose weight. Hell, it will most likely inspire a ton of viewers too.
The premise may have some inklings of the 2018 Amy Schumer comedy I Feel Pretty where this slightly overweight woman who is heavily insecure because of how she is perceived by the world results in her having no confidence, but Brittany delivers a much more empowering execution. The film is primarily a character-driven story of a woman who makes a commitment to getting her life together by taking care of herself both physically and mentally.
Undoubtedly, a major aspect of Bell’s character (Brittany) is how relatable she is. From its strong opening, Brittany is presented as a relatable person who you immediately empathize with. Unlike I Feel Pretty, director Paul Downs Colaizzo is able to accurately depict the struggle of an inferiority complex relating to weight and how it affects one’s personality where one often think less of one’s self, allowing people to walk over them, and most of all, settle for less. Because of how poorly she perceives herself, her emotional barrier that sometimes leads to self destruction is understandable. While done humorously, Colaizzo also captures the obvious but undiscussed issues that make weight loss hard, like temptation, impulsiveness, the hardship of commiting to a healthy diet, and how expensive a goddamn gym membership is. Throughout the film, Brittany undergoes this transformation where she learns to find her confidence and see herself as more than just “that fat friend.” There is clever commentary on toxic friendships, and the values of a true one, woven into the story.
A ton of R-rated comedies as of late tend to struggle with introducing their messy leads as likable before they undergo an arc, but Colaizzo (whose real life friendship with his roommate Brittany inspired this film) consistently keeps Brittany grounded and likable even when her attitude gets under the viewer’s skin. With his passionate script, he impressively nails the complexity of a messy character who is usually the sidekick coming into her own that leads for you to root for their win. This is both his writing and directorial debut and Colaizzo effectively makes a name for himself in the industry, for so many accomplishments lie within this film.
Besides Brittany’s personal journey being an exceptional heft, another layer that adds to the authenticity of the narrative is the setting. The narrative takes place in New York City, which is so perfectly depicted. This is a very New York story and it comes in fold with the diverse cast of well-developed supporting characters from various backgrounds (her love interest manchild named Jern, played by Utkarsh Ambudkar), class (her upstairs photographer neighbor who inspires Brittany to start running named Catherine, played by Michaela Watkins), and sexuality (her homosexual friend named Seth, played by Micah Stock) coming together with their own wants and desires. To have characters rallying with Brittany, assisting her on a better path to happiness makes for an abundant amount of heartwarming and inspiring scenes, some that’ll make you choke up. Plus, everybody’s comedic timing is precisely on point.
Since I’m at Sundance, far from home for the first time, it got me hella homesick. Through Paul Downs Colaizzo’s writing and direction, the setting plays a part as a character itself. Because of the distinct set of characters, this story felt true to the location. There is a beautiful 360 shot of Brittany standing out as her environment is painted blue, the iconic color of the NYC marathon. If that doesn't scream NYC, I don’t know what does. It’s one of those movies similar to Skate Kitchen that makes me love my home even more as they capture the intricate elements that make the city beautiful.
While Brittany is a relatable and likable character who you genuinely resonate with throughout, the film starts off in a bit of a rough patch where her judgemental ego is a bit too much. However, you still get the gist that this is part of her inferiority complex and it’s developed as a layer relating to her arc as opposed to just for the sake of her being annoying. Even when she’s unlikable, Brittany is still funny. Surprisingly, some of the other supporting characters who come across as annoying at first are well-developed with charm. A stand out character I loved was Utkarsh Ambudkar who also doesn’t get as many roles as he should. By him being the love interest, you’re able to see him show off layers of range and he’s hilariously charming throughout.
It may be January and this just got picked up by Amazon Studios, but don’t be surprised if award buzz starts for Jillian Bell because this is a performance that defines her talents and proves the capabilities she has. Balancing comedy and drama, she displays a powerful solo performance that is up in the ranks with Melissa McCarthy in Spy and Amy Schumer in Trainwreck.
Powered with a winning performance by Jillian Bell and a compelling character-driven narrative, Paul Downs Colaizzo’s Brittany Runs a Marathon is an empowering crowd-pleasing comedy that is as inspirational as its lead.
Rating 4/5 | 88%
Super Scene: GO BRITTANY!
