Brittany Runs a Marathon is an indie flick that just went wide over the weekend so I got a chance to check it out. The movie has been getting some very good reviews so I was curious… if for no other reason than the matter-of-fact title.

The movie stars Jillian Bell as an overweight, depressed, underpaid, under-working New Yorker who is stand-offish, selfish, and self-deprecating. In an attempt to scam some prescription drugs from a doctor, she’s informed she needs to get healthy fast (BMI index is unkind to her). She resists and throws shade at her neighbor who she judges as a rich bitch AND a jogger. But eventually she realizes she has to get healthy so she takes up jogging (*gasp*), makes a couple friends, and they together decide to get in shape for the NYC Marathon.

As you can tell from the character description, this is a film about an imperfect person who wants to improve herself. Not just her weight and health but outlook on life and approach to friends. It’s a light comedy about self improvement and, as such, it does a pretty good… if a little shaggy… job. The movie, being a character study, does amble along and bounce between life issues and events without a clear focus. But the movie gets there and (mild spoiler) Brittany does run the marathon and that sequence is pretty genuinely inspiring (without being maudlin).

I enjoyed this flick and low-key recommend it to folk. Jillian Bell – who tends to play oddball comedic characters – does her best work playing a somewhat unlikable character you want to see win… and at least stop hating herself. It’s a good message for a light comedy or dramady.

Score: 82