I was admittedly nervous about seeing Brittany Runs a Marathon, because I worried that this would be a “woman loses weight and is instantly happy” movie, but I’m happy to report that it wasn’t anything like I thought it was going to be.

Brittany (Jillian Bell, who is great in both this and Sword of Trust) is a 32-year-old woman trying to keep up with her Instagram-obsessed roommate: clubbing every night, hungover every morning, and constantly showing up late to her job at a local theater. After a doctor’s visit reveals her blood pressure is too high and a slew of other health problems are imminent, she decides to make some changes by getting her workout clothes on and taking it one block at a time.

Along the way she pairs up with her upstairs frenemy “Moneybags Martha” (Michaela Watkins, also in Sword of Trust!) and another beginning runner Seth (Micah Stock), and the three form a supportive trio. Brittany starts to gain more confidence as she accomplishes each running goal, but quickly finds out that she needs to adjust more than her body in order to be happy.

I’ll go ahead and say the cliché, “I laughed; I cried” because it’s true. Brittany was honestly more charming than I ever expected it to be.

{Brittany Runs a Marathon is screening at SIFF on Friday, May 24, 7:30pm at Shoreline Community College, and again on Sunday, May 26, 7:00pm at SIFF Cinema Egyptian. Director Paul Downs Colaizzo is scheduled to attend both screenings}