It seems fitting to catch up on a film missed at MIFF 2019 whilst sequestered to watch MIFF 2020 online. It was a late night find and Jillian Bell’s starring role was a major draw.

At first it seems like a familiar trope – a young person reaching a midlife crisis when they realise they are not achieving success in career, love, or life sets them on a path to overcome a seemingly insurmountable challenge.

For Brittany (Bell), her weight becomes the symbol of all she is not achieving so she starts running. Soon she befriends fellow novice jogger Seth (Micah Stock) and formerly aloof neighbour Catherine (Mikayla Watkins) and they vow to enter the New York Marathon.

Along the way she meets fellow house sitter, Jern (Utkarsh Ambudkar – the excellent Treblemaker Donald in Pitch Perfect) and they find comradeship in their dysfunction.

You can probably guess the narrative trajectory, although its path is not always what you expect. Brittany’s weight loss, gain, and how she and others respond to it is handled well, particularly in its subtle uncovering of discrimination. Brittany herself is not all that likeable, and it’s a brave move to have a lead character who regularly makes you feel uncomfortable. We understand her though and director Paul Downs Colaizzo does a good job at making her sympathetic and including some valuable statements about body positivity.

Some of the secondary characters, like a vapid friend Gretchen (Alice Lee), are a bit thin (no pun intended) but Lee also provide some understated diversity. The closing credits show images of the real Brittany, Colaizzo‘s friend who inspired the story. It’s a sweet note to finish on.

Image via http://www.lilithia.net

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