Content Warning: Spoilers for the film “Brittany Runs a Marathon,” which is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.

I love visiting my sister Bean at her house, but there’s one small problem with her entertainment center. She has a fantastic projector, a massive screen, and a comfortable couch, perfect for movie marathons, but there are only two acceptable viewing options: garbage reality TV and the 2019 dramedy “Brittany Runs a Marathon.”

Written and directed by Paul Downs Colaizzo and starring Jillian Bell as the titular Brittany, “Brittany Runs a Marathon” is the painfully realistic story about a hard-partying, irresponsible, overweight 28-year-old (or DUFF) who decides to take up running in an effort to get healthier. Part of that realism is because it’s based on the true story of a woman, Brittany O’Neill, who took control of her life with one short run at a time.

At first, Brittany tells herself to run from one end of the block to the other. Despite the agony of that first run (and as someone who hates running, I felt this scene in my bones), she continues pushing herself to do a little more each time. And through these small, positive steps, Brittany slowly begins to make a better life for herself. She stops her constant partying, gets a slightly better job, makes a few new friends, and even falls in love with a fellow slacker (played by the always-charming Utkarsh Ambudkar).

Despite all of the wonderful things that happen to Brittany, “Brittany Runs a Marathon” isn’t the happiest movie. Brittany experiences near-constant growing pains. She realizes her best friend and roommate, Gretchen (Alice Lee), is too insecure to supper her and only wants a fat, funny sidekick to party with. She realizes that the men of New York are more polite and attentive once she loses enough weight and looks more “feminine.” She even realizes (albeit later in the movie) that losing weight and becoming a runner doesn’t automatically solve all her problems.

“Brittany Runs a Marathon” is one of the most honest movies I’ve seen about living in a larger body and trying to make healthy changes. Brittany’s transformation isn’t immediate. It takes her months to lose what seems like a small amount of weight, but to anyone who’s ever had to lose more than 20 pounds, it’s more realistic. Brittany also suffers setbacks in her journey, like when she injures herself before the New York Marathon, is unable to work out, and gains some of her hard-lost weight back. Gaining back lost weight is a normal part of life, but as you’ve been following Brittany’s progress, you feel her frustration and anxiety.

“Brittany Runs a Marathon” is also an interesting watch because the main character, who is a relatable protagonist, is also defensive, hostile, and mean-spirited. Brittany’s experiences as an overweight, overlooked woman have made her insecure and angry at the world. In one painful scene, Brittany, temporarily staying in her childhood bedroom and recovering from an injury, attends a party where she interacts with an overweight woman, Jasmine, and her husband. After asking the couple several intrusive questions, Brittany drunkenly insults Jasmine in a clear moment of projection. It’s cruel and awful to watch, but it feels so real because we’re seeing someone let their intrusive thoughts and self-doubts come to the surface. (Don’t worry – she apologizes and grows after this experience)

It’s a pretty great movie, and as much as I wish Bean were willing to watch “The Muppets Take Manhattan” with me, I get why it’s her favorite. “Brittany Runs a Marathon” is the only movie Bean will watch all the way through (aside from the occasional pizza and Instagram break). In Bean’s heart, no movie could ever hold a candle to Brittany’s journey from “overweight slacker to average-sized runner.” It’s the movie she watches when she’s happy, the movie she watches when she’s sad, and the movie she watches when she needs inspiration to go to the gym. There may be other movies Bean would be willing to watch, but that doesn’t matter, because she only has room in her heart for Brittany. She sees so much of herself in the character and is moved by her story, so how could any other movie, even one with the Muppets, possibly compare?

Brittany shows incredible determination and strength in accomplishing her goals. Brittany’s first tentative steps eventually turn into her completing an impressive feat of strength and endurance. Watching Brittany go on her journey will make you think, “Gosh, if this girl, Brittany, can transform her life and run a marathon, maybe I can too!” Even if you don’t run a marathon, the movie makes you feel the importance of taking those first few steps. You may start running just one block, but before you know it, you’ll accomplish amazing things.

Except for me, obviously. I’m only ever running if there’s something bad behind me, so if you see me running, take that as a sign to start booking it.