Today we speak with comedian/actor/writer/director Michael Ian Black. Black's hilarious credits include MTV's The State, Comedy Central's Stella, and the cult classic Wet Hot American Summer. He's probably best known to the general public as being the standout quipper on VH1's "I Love the (Insert Decade Here)" specials. Black's latest project is Run Fatboy Run. He wrote the original screenplay for the film, which was directed by David Schwimmer and stars Simon Pegg, Hank Azaria, and Thandie Newton.

Cinematical: Would you tell our readers a bit about Run Fatboy Run?

Michael Ian Black: Sure. It's a lovely and funny romantic comedy about a guy who has never finished anything in his life who decides to run a marathon.

Cinematical: What inspired you to write the film?

MIB: I wanted to write something a little more mainstream than what I am normally known for. I had just written two screenplays that were more left of center and I wanted to challenge myself to try to write something that I thought would be a little more accessible.

Cinematical: Are you a marathon man? Why do people do this to themselves?

MIB: I've never run further than a couple miles. I have no idea why somebody would subject themselves to the agony of running for twenty-six miles. Particularly if they've got a car.

When I refer to David Schwimmer's Run Fatboy Run as "a modern-day screwball farce," that's a nice way of saying it's outrageously predictable, unabashedly sappy, and completely formulaic through and through. You know where the movie is going from frame one, and it sure doesn't take a lot of detours getting there. But the phrase "screwball" probably wouldn't have come to mind if Run Fatboy Run wasn't at least a little bit funny. Which it is. So if you don't mind an amiable-yet-seriously familiar 90 minutes -- and you're a big fan of British actor Simon Pegg -- I'd have no problem recommending the flick. Even if I'd never come close to calling it something brilliant.

The effortlessly likable Simon Pegg stars as one of those lovably lazy sad-sack types that you only come across in comedic films: Despite the fact that he left his pregnant fiancee (Thandie Newton) at the altar five years earlier, Pegg's "Dennis" is one of those losers we love to root for. (How a doofus like this ever scored a catch like Thandie Newton -- and then abandoned her! -- is one of the film's sillier conceits.) So when his former flame's smarmy new boyfriend (Hank Azaria) mentions that he'll be running in an upcoming marathon, Dennis senses a shot at redemption.

It seems like just a few months ago we were enjoying the sights, the sounds, the smells and the cinema of South By Southwest 2007, but guess what? Now that it's January, the festival's only about nine weeks away! Awesome! So today we caught some slightly early news on what SXSW is cooking up for this March, and I must say I'm pretty impressed with what they snagged for their opening night film.

And that film is: Robert Luketic's 21, which is based on the book Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions. (You may remember Mr. Luketic from flicks like Legally Blonde, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!, and Monster-in-Law.) Adapted by Ben Mezrich's book by screenwriters Peter Steinfeld and Allan Loeb, 21 stars Kevin Spacey, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Bosworth and Jim Sturgess. (Check out the trailer right here.)

And if that world premiere isn't cool enough, festival chief Matt Dentler has also divulged the following titles for SXSW '08:

At the Death House Door (Steve James & Peter Gilbert) "A sobering and powerful story of the wrongful execution of Carlos DeLuna and the Death House Chaplain, Pastor Carroll Pickett, who spent the last day of DeLuna's life with him."

Dreams with Sharp Teeth (Erik Nelson) "A documentary portrait of acclaimed author Harlan Ellison, as he looks back on his fabled and influential career as one of the world's top science fiction writers."

Flawless (Michael Radford) "In 1960s London, a talented but overlooked diamond executive (Demi Moore) is convinced to participate in a jewelry heist when a veteran janitor (Michael Caine) hatches a plan."

Run Fatboy Run (David Schwimmer) "An out-of-shape divorced father (Simon Pegg) makes one last attempt to win back the respect of his son, his ex-wife (Thandie Newton), and the community around him. All he has to do is finish his first marathon."

Wild Blue Yonder (Celia Maysles) "Celia Maysles had no idea her father and his brother Albert were pioneers of verite documentary filmmaking. Determined to uncover the secrets surrounding her background, Celia sets out on a quest to rediscover her father by using his own artistic process."

Expect a few more flashy surprises before the full SXSW slate is announced on February 5! Until then, feel free to browse through the SXSW website and decide if THIS is the year you're finally going to take my advice and attend the dang festival. (You do know it's a movie AND music fest, right? Interactive, too, and I do believe I've mentioned the indigenous BBQ more than once.)

I'm excited enough that Rod Lurie is returning to politics with Nothing but the Truth, a film loosely associated with the story of Valerie Plame. But I'm becoming more excited that it will feature a wide range of talented actors, from Kate Beckinsdale to Alan Alda to Matt Dillon to Vera Farmiga to David Schwimmer to Edie Falco to Harry Lennix to the just-announced Angela Bassett and Noah Wyle. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Basset and Wyle join the ensemble as supportive figures. Bassett is to play editor-in-chief to Beckinsdale's reporter and Wyle is to play the lawyer defending Beckinsdale's character, who ends up in jail for not revealing a source.

More than 13 years after being nominated for an Oscar (for What's Love Got to Do with It), I'm happy to see Bassett getting more meaty roles. In addition to this part, which will probably be too small to garner too much recognition, she is set to star opposite Don Cheadle as the titular wife in the biopic Toussaint, and she's sure to be seen by millions and millions in Tyler Perry's next movie, Meet the Browns. Wyle, too, is deserving of making his mark on the big screen now that he's done playing Dr. Carter on E.R. Coming up for him is a father role in the 1963-set coming-of-age film Boy of Pigs and his directorial debut, a romantic comedy titled Prince Test.

The interesting thing about Nothing but the Truth is it somewhat seems to combine Lurie's The Contender (possibly my favorite political film ever), which also focused on a woman under heavy scrutiny, and his recent box office disappointment Resurrecting the Champ, which similarly dealt with the world of journalism. For the sake of this great cast, I hope Nothing but the Truth is closer to the success level of the former.

After Spaced, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, it's widely believed that Simon Pegg can do no wrong; appearing as if custom-made to test that contention is the new comedy Run, Fat Boy, Run. Run, Fat Boy, Run gets approving nods from comedy connoisseurs when you mention Pegg's in the lead; mention the presence of David Schwimmer in the director's chair and their expressions change subtly ...

After the success of Friends, Schwimmer could have devoted himself to any number of pastimes -- stick-fighting, model rocketry, leisurely laps in a Scrooge McDuck-style pool of Sacagawea dollar coins. Instead, Schwimmer starred in Duane Hopwood -- which saw Schwimmer playing a barely-functioning alcoholic, as if a brief crawl through the gutter would get the Ross off him -- and here he makes his directorial debut.

Run, Fat Boy, Run stars Pegg as Dennis; five years ago, Dennis left his pregnant girlfriend Libby (Thandie Newton) at the altar. Now, he's living in a basement flat, working as a security guard, occasionally being a good dad to his son Jake (Matthew Fenton) -- and confronted with Libby's relationship with Whit (Hank Azaria), a well-to-do, can-do American. In a moment of weakness -- motivated by pride, or idiocy, or both -- Dennis reacts to Whit's bragging about his upcoming athletic endeavors by saying that he, too, is going to run the London Marathon ...

Just a few days from the Toronto International Film Festival, and the posters are coming out of the woodwork. Picturehouse was kind enough to provide us with an exclusive first peek at the spandy-new poster (click the image for a bigger view) for former Friend David Schwimmer's feature directorial debut (he has quite a bit of TV stuff under his belt), Run, Fatboy, Run. The film stars Simon Pegg as Dennis, a chunky, uninspired loser who gets cold feet and dumps his hot girlfriend, Libby (Thandie Newton) on their wedding day -- and then spends the next five years regretting it. He finally decides to win Libby back from her new, wealthy and handsome love, Whit (Hank Azaria), but first he has to get in shape and win a marathon to prove to Libby that he's a changed man.

Sounds like a great date flick to me. Like Knocked Up and 40 Year Old Virgin, it has the appeal of an average-looking Everyguy with a very attractive woman -- guys like to cheer for guys like that, and women clearly find them appealing as well, if Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow are any indication. The geek factor could definitely give the film a box office edge, especially if there's good buzz at TIFF. I've always like Schwimmer as an actor, and I'm really curious to see how he directs this film. What do you think of the poster? The film opens in the US on October 26; until then, you'll have to satisfy your curiousity with the film's official website, which has a trailer for the film, and

Back in July, Kate Beckinsale, Matt Dillon, Vera Farmiga, Edie Falco and Alan Alda were in talks for Nothing but the Truth -- Rod Lurie's upcoming political thriller. (If you remember, the movie parallels Valerie Plame's struggles.) They have all signed on, and now we've got another cast member that is, frankly, surprising. The Hollywood Reporter has listed Friends star David Schwimmer. Yes, Ross. Beckinsale is a journalist who exposes the agent and goes to prison when she won't reveal her source, and Schwimmer is going to play her husband. At first, he supports his wife's decision to remain silent, but as things progress, he "begins to resent her for choosing a principle over her family."

It sounds completely not-goofy, so will this be his chance to finally get some real cred? It's just such a strange choice... Sitting around the casting table, already having the likes of flipping Alan Alda, who thinks: "Hey, we should get David Schwimmer for the role!?" It's the sort of gig that many, many actors could fill in, so I would love to know what made them choose Ross. Maybe he can pull it off? But it isn't Schwimmer's only chance to prove himself. You might remember that he recently made a movie that sounds much more up his alley -- Run Fat Boy, Run. The teaser came out way back in February, and the Simon Pegg-starring comedy is finally premiering next month at TIFF, before it's released in October. What do you think? Does Schwimmer have it in him?

It's not the greatest teaser in the world, but Simon Pegg jogging half a block in his underwear (I think those were underwear?) was enough to pique my interest in Run Fat Boy Run, David Schwimmer's feature directorial debut. Pic, which hits theaters sometime this year, now has its first teaser trailer up on YouTube ... and if you like Simon Pegg -- lots and lots of Simon Pegg -- then you'll most likely dig the thing. In the film, Pegg plays an overweight man who drops the pounds and signs up for a marathon in order to win back the woman he left at the altar ten years prior.

Sadly, we do not get Simon Pegg in a fat suit yet; I'm not even sure he wears one in the film. In fact, based on this teaser, you'd have no idea the character was fat, or was eager to win back his lost love. Sure, it's pretty clear he's training for something (and that aforementioned underwear scene was pretty silly), but we have no clue what he's training for or why. Since it's just a teaser (and a long one at that), we'll cut the film some slack -- after all, the joke certainly comes across. Yes, he's really skinny ... but the film is called Run Fat Boy Run. And then you're supposed to laugh, dig up your old Friends DVDs and Thank God for David Schwimmer's existence.

Geez Erik, don't be so rough. I'm not being rough, and one of the things I'm definitely stoked about is the fact that Michael Ian Black wrote the screenplay. The State, anyone? Stella? Took him long enough to make it to the big screen, but knowing he wrote it means we're in for a different -- and more subtle -- type of comedy. Which I love. Which we need more of. I won't run, but I shall -- at the very least -- walk to stand in line once the film comes out. How about you?

David Schwimmer hasn't had an easy time after Friends. Since the popular series wrapped, he's had one completely-off-the-radar release, one new release, and the voice of a giraffe. There have been no well-publicized romantic exploits, or a television show. Maybe it's the curse of the Gellars, as Courtney Cox has also been out of the spotlight. Schwimmer's comedic goofiness seems to have carried him as far as it can, at least on-screen. Now, he will Schwim behind the camera with the new film, Run, Fat Boy, Run. It is a first for Material Entertainment -- the joined forces of Entertainment Film Distributors and New Line Cinema.

Our own Martha Fischer originally covered the film when Simon Pegg was in negotiations to play the "fat boy." An original screenplay by Michael Ian Black ( Reno 911!), Run tells the tale of an overweight man who wants to win back the fiancé he left at the alter five years earlier by running in a marathon and somehow upstaging her dapper new fiancé. With casting complete, Pegg will be joined by Thandie Newton, Hank Azaria, and Dylan Moran. Is it safe to assume that Azaria will be the new man in her life? For a man who still has charisma as a tight pants Lancelot, the script must make him really undesirable.

The cast looks promising, although we all know that great casts don't necessarily make great movies. The title? Well, I think they could have come up with something a little more original, but we're talking about the guy who writes about over-the-top cops in Reno . Basically, it follows the usual supportive formula when you can't think of your own words of encouragement. My first memory of it is in Forrest Gump with the whole "Run, Forrest, run!" And, my favourite use would be the juvenile, yet funny, chiding "Fly, fat ass, fly!" from Mallrats.

Can you think of earlier uses of the "Action, Name, Action" formula? What are your favourites?

I don't know about you, but the very idea of seeing Simon Pegg doing an American accent in a murder-heavy black comedy is enough to get me psyched to buy a ticket -- even if Peggy's co-star IS the generally uninteresting David Schwimmer. The flick at hand is Big Nothing, the sophomore effort from Jean-Baptiste Andrea, the man who gave us horror fans the surprisingly entertaining off-the-radar flick called Dead End.

Pegg and Schwimmer play a pair of tech support losers who, upon losing their dead-end jobs, hatch an elaborate scheme that goes wildly out of control when death makes the scene. Also along for the ride are Jon Polito, Mimi Rogers, Natascha McElhone and an adorable newcomer called Alice Eve. I'm not even sure if the flick has a U.S. distributor just yet, but the new trailer indicates that, yes, this is the type of movie that Scott generally enjoys. (Yes, I was the one who loved Very Bad Things AND The Ice Harvest.)

Either way, the novelty of seeing Simon Pegg playing an American is enough to separate me from my ten bucks; the guy's just that damn funny, plus I need a little Pegg infusion while I'm waiting to enjoy the inevitably hilarious Hot Fuzz.

Seeing Courteney Cox in Zoom yesterday made me think, "Gee, I wonder what the heck the rest of the Friends are up to these days." This gave me an excellent opportunity to satisfy my freakish obsession for IMDb for the day by diving deep to see what else Cox-Arquette and her former cast mates are up to. If you're an IMDb addict like me, come take a look with me ...

Cox's close friend Jennifer Aniston has had a busy time in her personal life, what with breaking things off with Brad and hooking up with Vince (what do you think? Did she get an upgrade there?). Aniston wrapped 2006 early with The Break-Up, but appears to be gearing up for a busy 2007 with three films on her plate: Diary, a thriller whose description is "a married woman's diary is stolen and used against her"; The Senator's Wife, which, at the moment, shows no one but Aniston in the cast; and the one that shows the most promise from this vantage point, Wanted, in which she plays a framed cop who must break out of prison with her cellmate, played by Meryl Streep.

Call me crazy, but Simon Pegg is not someone I would have anywhere near my dream-cast list if I was trying to fill the lead of a movie called Run, Fat Boy, Run. Unless the man has experienced some serious weight gain since the last Hot Fuzz video blog entry, he's missing what would seem to be one of the primary requirements for that role, namely the fat. Despite that, this morning's Hollywood Reporter insists that Pegg is in negotiations to star in the film, in which he'd play "a charming but oblivious overweight guy who leaves his fiancee on their wedding day only to discover years later that he really loves her." While trying to convince the woman that they belong together, the Pegg character for some reason has to run a marathon, which explains the film's title.

The movie was written by Michael Ian Black, and will be directed by none other that David Schwimmer. Seeing as how Run, Fat Boy, Run is Schwimmer's debut feature as a director, I feel it's time to offer a single piece of advice: Just say no to fat suits. Nobody want to see a white, male Big Momma. If Pegg is going to play your damn Fat Guy, feed him cheese burgers -- lots and lots of cheese burgers. If he complains, just tell him that the Academy loves that crap. (The problem, however, is that the movie starts filming next month. That might not be enough to time for the necessary burger pounding.)

• Breakfast On Pluto - The Crying Game writer-director Neil Jordan never really does get into why Patrick “Kitten” Braden becomes a transvestite, but he does manage to save his film from being a rote and self-indulgent celebration of uniqueness when he bobs and then weaves a political cry (for Irish independence) into it. The criminally attractive Cillian Murphy plays Kitten a little too much like Mrs. Doubtfire, though he does sustain the character, and an incredible glam-packed soundtrack helps create an energetic sense of time and place.
• Deep Blue - While not as stunning as the likes of Winged Migration or March Of The Penguins, this BBC-produced nature film sure is pretty to look at. With a calming, minimalist narration by Pierce Brosnan (supplanting Michael Gambon's from the UK release) and a dreamy score by George Fenton, the underwater photography is stunning. The beast-on-beast violence is a bit intense, with one hapless sea lion meeting his end when two orcas play hacky-sack with his mangled corpse (in slow-motion, no less).

OK, so everyone has had it up to here (place hand near forehead) with all this talk about James Frey and the discussion on whether or not his book is true, fiction, or a little of both. But allow me just this one additional item, something that is being forgotten in all this talk (and yes, it does have something to do with films).

When did all of this drug addiction/rehab, etc stuff take place? The reason I ask is, what about the movie Frey wrote, Kissing A Fool, a sub-par romantic comedy with Friends star David Schwimmer, Bonnie Hunt, and My Name Is Earl's Jason Lee? That came out in 1998. Did he write it while going through things described in the book (that would explain a lot) or was it after, or what? 

[via Bookslut]