Run Ronnie Run!

Run Ronnie Run! is an American satirical comedy film directed by Troy Miller. The film is a spin-off inspired by David Cross's recurring character Ronnie Dobbs from the HBO sketch comedy series Mr. Show. David Cross plays the lead and multiple other roles, while Mr. Show co-creator Bob Odenkirk plays multiple supporting roles. The film was produced in 2001 and premiered at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival, before being released direct-to-video over 18 months later in 2003.

Run Ronnie Run!
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Troy Miller
Written by	David Cross Bob Odenkirk Scott Aukerman B. J. Porter Brian Posehn
Produced by	Troy Miller Mark Burg Oren Koules
Starring	David Cross Bob Odenkirk Nikki Cox R. Lee Ermey David Koechner M.C. Gainey Jill Talley Ben Stiller Jack Black
Cinematography	Shawn Maurer
Edited by	Dean Holland
Music by	Scott Aukerman Eban Schletter
Production companies	Burg/Koules Productions Dakota Pictures HBO Original Programming
Distributed by	New Line Home Video
Release dates	January 20, 2002 (2002-01-20) (Sundance Film Festival) September 16, 2003 (2003-09-16)
Running time	86 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English

Plot

Ronnie Dobbs (David Cross) is a small-town man known for his frequent arrests, often for petty crimes such as public intoxication and disorderly conduct. His repeated encounters with law enforcement are captured on Fuzz, a reality television show modeled after cops. Ronnie’s exaggerated personality, combined with his humorous and often absurd interactions with police officers, makes him a standout figure on the show, garnering a cult following among its viewers.

Terry Twillstein (Bob Odenkirk), a struggling British infomercial host and self-proclaimed entrepreneur, notices Ronnie’s growing popularity on Fuzz and sees an opportunity to create a new television program. Terry approaches Ronnie with a proposal for a show called Ronnie Dobbs Gets Arrested, where Ronnie would travel to different cities across the United States and get arrested in unique and comedic scenarios. Initially reluctant, Ronnie eventually agrees, motivated by the promise of fame and financial success.

The show becomes an unexpected hit, turning Ronnie into a national celebrity. His weekly antics and over-the-top arrests captivate audiences, and Ronnie quickly becomes a household name. With his newfound fame, Ronnie moves to Hollywood and adopts a lavish lifestyle, enjoying the perks of celebrity status, including endorsements, parties, and media attention. However, his rise to fame begins to strain his personal relationships, particularly with his on-again, off-again girlfriend, Kayla (Nikki Cox), who struggles with Ronnie’s growing ego and increasingly reckless behavior.

As the show progresses, Ronnie’s antics become more extreme, and his behavior grows increasingly erratic. Terry, who initially served as Ronnie’s mentor and manager, begins to feel overshadowed and unappreciated. Their professional relationship deteriorates as Ronnie becomes more self-absorbed, dismissing Terry’s advice and sidelining him from key decisions. Meanwhile, the show’s ratings begin to decline as audiences grow tired of Ronnie’s repetitive antics.

The turning point occurs when Ronnie’s reckless actions lead to the cancellation of his show and the loss of his fortune. Stripped of his fame and success, Ronnie returns to his hometown, where he is forced to confront the consequences of his behavior. Alienated from his friends and fans, he begins to reflect on his choices and attempts to rebuild his life. With the support of Terry, Kayla, and a few loyal friends, Ronnie embarks on a journey of personal and professional redemption.

The film culminates in a climactic sequence where Ronnie attempts to stage a comeback, reclaiming his place in the entertainment world while addressing the mistakes of his past. The story concludes with Ronnie finding a balance between his public persona and his personal life, leaving his future open to interpretation. The film explores themes of fame, redemption, and the consequences of living a life in the public eye.

Cast

• David Cross as Ronwell Quincy "Ronnie" Dobbs / Pootie T / voice of Chow Chow
• Bob Odenkirk as Terry Twillstein / Wolfgang Amadeus Thelonious Von Funkenmeister the XIX 3 / 4 / Daffy Mal Yinkle Yankle
• Nikki Cox as Kayla
• R. Lee Ermey as Lead Kidnapper
• M. C. Gainey as Hark Trellis
• David Koechner as Clay
• Jill Talley as Tammy
• E. J. De la Pena as Jerry Trellis
• Tom Kenny as TV News Reporter / Cult Leader Gleh’n
• Suli McCulloch as Kyle
• Becky Thyre as Tonya

Many of the regular cast members of Mr. Show made appearances in the film, including Paul F. Tompkins as Safari Guy in TV, Brett Paesel as Infomercial Nancy, Brian Posehn as Tank, Patton Oswalt as Dozer, Sarah Silverman as a Network Executive, Jack Black as Lead Chimney Sweep, Mary Lynn Rajskub as herself, John Ennis as Bartender, Scott Adsit as a Police Negotiator, and Scott Aukerman as a Starving Kidnapper.

In addition to members of Mr. Show, other notable appearances include Dave Foley and Andy Richter as Network Executives, Jeff Garlin as Birthday Woman's Friend, Laura Kightlinger as Birthday Woman, Patrick Warburton as Head of Gay Conspiracy, Doug Benson as Editor #3, David Baddiel and Morwenna Banks as British Couple, and Rhoda Griffis as TV Anchorwoman.

Many well-known celebrities had brief cameos in the film, such as Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Ben Stiller, John Stamos, Rebecca Romijn, Garry Shandling, Scott Ian, Kathy Griffin, Scott Thompson, Mandy Patinkin, and Jeff Goldblum.

Production

The film premiered at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival.^[1] Bob Odenkirk initially publicly criticized the film's studio (New Line Cinema) and even went as far as releasing the personal email addresses of Robert Shaye (Chairman) and other principals of New Line Cinema to his fans in an effort to get the film released. He later went on to blame the film's failure on director Troy Miller who, as Odenkirk claims, denied him and David Cross the right to do a final edit of the film.^[2] Cross and Miller would later reunite when Miller was hired to direct several episodes of Arrested Development.

Reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 71% based on 7 reviews, with an average rating of 6.4/10.^[3] Variety said the film failed "to sustain its initial burst of comic inspiration over the course of its feature-length running time."^[4]