Skip to main content

Dome Pondering Movie Review: Brittany Runs the Marathon (2019)


What is it about?

A woman decides to make changes in her life, starting with training for the New York City marathon.

 Who is in it?

Jillian Bell - Brittany

Michaela Watkins - Catherine

Utkarsh Ambudkar - Jern


Favorite Scene:

[spoiler alert]

While on the train to one of her races, Brittany is met by here former roommate and friend. They communicate, and through a play of words, is able to have some closure and a little bit of revenge during the interaction.

Favorite Quote:

“I’m going to get rid of this girl because she keeps talking about Casey Anthony. Blek.”

Review:

Brittany Runs a Marathon, a production from Amazon Prime, is just, well...there. I'm not trying to be harsh, but this film really just left me where I started. This film is the epitome of not minimal emotional movement.

For me, the film just felt shallow. Yes, the story and otherwise morals and underlying nuances regarding life, making changes, and of course, what and how we appear to one another on the surface, is there, but this film never gets out of first gear.

The reason? The main character, Brittany, is just not likeable. You want to root for Brittany and this massive, gutsy, difficult transformation of losing weight, getting out of a rut, finding love, and coming into her own, but it just never appears presents itself. Brittany at times can be cold, mean, and often times, she is this way to the very people who are trying to help her. Quite frankly, if Brittany failed to run the marathon, I wouldn't have cared one bit.

Another reason for the neutral emotions towards this film is that the characters are very shallow. Brittany - another reason why I might not like her - has zero backstory beyond her bout with her weight and her confidence. Her new friends, especially Catherine, we learn of, but we never see their relationship develop - other than her inviting her.

Much like my review of Netflix's Tall Girl, this one was just there. The only difference - I didn't regret Tall Girl. At the end of this film, I was left empty. Not good.

Maybe you'll have a different take, but this one is going in the never again pile.

Grade: 1.5/5
Labels:

Recently Read

Would You Rather: Questions 121-130

This edition of "Would You Rather" is credited to the NBA Would You Rather NBA Account on Instagram ( See Here ). Adding to the fun, this edition (and possibly future ones) are all NBA basketball questions.  121. Who would you rather have on your favorite NBA team - Giannis Antetokounpo or James Harden?  Seeing how I'm a lifelong suffering Knicks fan, the thought of any of these guys in blue and orange is hard to believe. With that said, I'm taking the Greek Freak for this reason - I enjoy watching him play a bit more. Nothing against Harden who is amazing as well, but at times, the ball sticks and that isn't always fun. Plus, I feel like we haven't yet seen a finished Giannis. 122. Would you rather have Giannis Antetokounpo with no driving ability or James Harden with no Three-Point shooting ability?  This is definitely a weird and unique one, but I'll take Harden. Giannis without his strength doesn't offer much. However, if Harden's d...
Read more

Dome Pondering Move Review: Say You Will (2017)

What is it about? A recent high school graduate cares for his mother while attempting to navigate his first relationship following his father's suicide.  Who is in it? Travis Tope - Sam Nimitz Katherine Hughes - Ellie Vaughn Favorite Scene: [spoiler alert] Sam plays his song for his mom. Favorite Quote: Ellie: "I wish we could have met down the road, maybe when we were like 27." Sam: "I think we needed each other now." Review:  Say You Will was an absolutely pleasant surprise of a watch from the Amazon Prime offerings.  I wasn't exactly sure what to expect with this one, but after the credits rolled, it was a movie that provided authentic characters and a great lesson on life. We don't always have to have everything figured out, and it's okay if you don't.  What makes Say You Will so beautiful is that all of the characters are carrying some inner struggle that connects them in the moment and time that helps them through whatever it is. The unlike...
Read more

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 2/15/26

Sunday Sundown Rundown returns! Going forward, I'll be sharing thoughts and ponderings in a format of three simple thoughts, opposed to the former "3 Up, 3 Down" of the past.   Mother of Savannah Guthrie I haven't been closely following the developments. I've checked in here and there, mostly hoping that this horrific story comes to an end. I simply continue to sympathize with concern, as not only are the emotions of having one's mother kidnapped for ransom more than enough to bear, but to have it played out publicly, before the nation, helplessly, is an unfathomable reality to understand. And of course, as all things in this culture, the story has been manipulated, pulled apart, and coerced into political representations that are not true, or at the very worst, worthy of discussion considering that someone's life - a person's mother - is at stake.  Winter Olympics It's not my favorite. Summer Olympics are my jam. Nonetheless, this Winter Olympics...
Read more