Many of us could probably stand to get in better shape. But few of us actually take the initiative to work on things like that, because we're comfortable. What happens when you take a party girl who's in dire need of some health changes and ask her to start training? You get Jillian Bell in the hilarious "Brittany Runs a Marathon".
This 2019 dramedy quickly earned a permanent spot in my rotation when I first stumbled onto it. I always assumed it was a cheesy "glow-up" movie, and I'm almost positive others thought the same since it didn't draw much attention when it debuted. But what it really has is tons of cringeworthy humor and brutal honesty. And it also has Bell's painfully relatable performance as someone who's often her own worst enemy. It's also laugh-out-loud hilarious.
What's 'Brittany Runs a Marathon' about?
Brittany Forgler (Jillian Bell) is a New Yorker known for being the "funny fat friend" in her hard-partying circle. After a humbling doctor's visit reveals just how unhealthy she is, Brittany realizes this is her wake-up call.
Broke and desperate for change, she decides to try the one thing she can afford to lose weight: running. She starts with one painful, gasping city block and starts building herself up from there. Eventually, she reluctantly sets a seemingly impossible goal: train for and complete the New York City Marathon. This 5K challenge forces her to push past her physical limits, but it also makes her take a hard look at all the bad habits that she's held all of her life.
Brittany may be running to get away from an unhealthy lifestyle, but she ends up realizing there's a lot more she needs to change about herself. And there's plenty for us to laugh at along the way, because like many of us, she realizes this is going to be a long, hard road. And she'd rather be lazy about it.
Why you should stream 'Brittany Runs a Marathon'
If you enjoyed Bell in "Workaholics" when she was at her best, then you'll absolutely love seeing her as Brittany. Plus, if you already find "self-improvement" stories utterly exhausting, "Brittany Runs a Marathon" turns the idea into a hilarious dramedy that still makes it easy to appreciate the main character's plight while not losing itself in mediocrity.
And most importantly, it's actually funny. Bell has a way of self-deprecating comedy that doesn't feel hateful toward her or anyone who's overweight, and that's part of what makes this such a fun watch.
But most importantly, the movie doesn't shy away from the very real self-sabotage and toxic friendships that actually happen in situations like these. I've often wondered what it really takes to stop being your own worst enemy, and "Brittany Runs a Marathon" hits uncomfortably close to home for me. It makes me laugh to forget about the hard parts, though.
If you've seen "Trainwreck" or you're on your 85th rewatch of "Bridget Jones's Diary," it's time for a little something different, and "Brittany Runs a Marathon" hits the spot perfectly. It's streaming right now on Prime Video, so catch it before it inevitably leaves one day (despite it being an Amazon Studios creation).
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