The description for Paul Downs Colaizzo’s debut film, Brittany Runs A Marathon, gives a false impression that the film is going to be a shallow story about a girl that finds happiness after losing weight. While that is the premise of the film, there’s much more depth and meaning that makes it a joyful story to watch unfold on screen. Brittany Runs A Marathon manages to do what Netflix’s Insatiable failed at; delivering a meaningful story about learning to love yourself throughout a massive life change.
Jillian Bell Shines
The film stars Jillian Bell as Brittany, a twenty or thirty-something living with her best friend in a crowded Queens apartment. When Brittany goes to the doctor to try and get a prescription for Adderall, she is instead diagnosed as overweight. Her doctor tells her that by losing 40 pounds she would be able to live a better life. Much to her dismay, Brittany promises to lose the weight and goes home sans prescription. Over the next few days, Brittany begins her weight loss journey by looking for a gym. When she realizes how expensive a membership is she decides to go for a run instead.
Her first couple of runs are hard, and Brittany must confront who she is in order to overcome the challenge of changing for the better. By now the film is clearly about something more than just her weight loss journey. Over time Brittany begins to see the people in her life under a different light. Now that she isn’t partying as much she doesn’t provide the same type of entertainment that her seemingly close friends are used to. This shows Brittany the hard truth that she needs to see. But the new people she meets along the way give her the kind of support that she needs in order to reach her ultimate goal; running the NYC marathon.
Lighthearted Comedy
Above all, the film is a testament to the old cliche that everyone is fighting a battle you may not see. Brittany learns, throughout the film, that sometimes you need to be vulnerable in order to find meaning in your relationships. The film ultimately explores and demonstrates how so many people use humor to cover up vulnerability. One of the challenges in creating the film was making sure that Brittany, a character that is, ultimately, having to be very vulnerable is never the butt of any joke. This is something that Bell delivers seemingly effortlessly, but later credits as one of the more challenging parts of the film.
In short, Brittany Runs A Marathon is a heartwarming story with the perfect blend of comedic edge and relatable drama. It’s a lot less tragic than a film like Bridesmaids, which Bell has a cameo in, but has the same level of potential as a sleeper hit rom com. As of right now, Brittany Runs A Marathon doesn’t have a set release date, but I highly recommend looking out for it when it comes.
