Genre: Comedy
Rating: R
Running Length: 1hour and 25 minutes
Director: Jody Hill
Screenplay: Jody Hill
Release Date: 4/10/2009
U.S. Distributor: Warner Brothers
Starring: Seth Rogen, Anna Faris, Ray Liotta, Michael Pena
3 Flashlights out of 4.
Upon first glimpse its more than understandable to confuse Observe and Report with Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Both films focused on chubby, and overly dedicated security guards. But that's about all those two movies have in common.
Paul Blart is a harmless, good-natured, family friendly comedy, with a lead character whose likable and easy to root for. Observe and Report doesn't try to claim any of those things, and seems pretty damn proud of it too. It's dark, demented, perverse and painfully awkward to sit through at times. It's the kind of movie that will find a cult following, but likely to turn off mainstream audiences.
Observe And Report should be considered a huge professional success for Rogen. Who hits a home run, stepping out of his comfort zone of sarcastic yet, lovable losers (or stoners). It's good to see him doing something new. Technically he's played the same character since his role in The 40-year-old-Virgin in 2005. Director Jody Hill continues to bring the unconventional style of humor that drew people to his decent debut The Foot Fist Way. He shows no fear when comes to making comedy that play by it's own rules.
The film deliberately tricks the viewer from the get go. Ronnie Barnhardt (Rogen) starts out as a likeable albeit obviously strange. As the film progress it becomes clear that Ronnie has problems that can only be rectified by years psychiatric help.
Ronnie is the head of mall security and he rules his little slice of suburbia with an unflinching iron fist. He's aided by his loyal underlings Dennis(Michael Pena) his always under the influence right hand man, his Infantry, the Yuen twins "If one of you dies, god gave me another one" and Charles the naive rookie. They all admire Ronnie for his leadership and fearlessness. Ronnie has a disturbingly one-sided crush on cosmetics girl Brandi (Anna Faris) who describes him as "that creepy guy from the mall". Nell (Collette Wolfe), the woman who is genuinely interested in Ronnie, is too plain and good-natured for him to notice except when he wants his daily morning free coffee.
A pair of crimes at the mall (a parking lot flasher and a string of late-night robberies) threatens the world of law and order Ronnie's created. Detective Harrison (Ray Liotta) is called in to investigate, leaving Ronnie less than pleased with the presence of real police on his turf. He offers his assistance and sabotages Harrison's investigation with illogical assumptions and racial profiling. Despite Harrison clearly being disgusted with him, Ronnie leads himself to believe they've formed a mutual respect and becomes inspired to follow his dream of becoming a Police Officer.
The film bares a striking resemblance to films like King of Comedy, Taxi Driver or Bad Santa. These films feature mentally warped anti-heroes whose socially despicable behavior can either make you laugh or leave you at a lost for words. But enough intrigue is there to make you root for them or at least see how this trainwreck of a character will end up. While it doesn't the laugh out loud moments people would expect from movie starring Rogen and Faris, but the movie has deeper meaning satirizing malls, law enforcement, heroism, America's obsession with violence, raunchy jokes and slick one liners.
I was impressed with how Rogen was able to take Ronnie from a harmless dufus to certified nut job almost effortlessly. This is a man who is in late 20's,who still lives at home with his perpetually drunk mother, has no hesitations about having sex with a girl that's barely conscious and vomiting on herself, hes a borderline racist, he experiments with drugs, and can't handle any day to day situation with resorting to severe violence. Yet he feels he's earned the respect and adulation of those he encounters. No matter what Ronnie always perceives himself to be the "good guy". The only word that does Ronnie justice is Delusional. It's just that simple no other word will do.
Observe and Report offers a form of redemption to its main character without seeming to sell out. The film seems to be designed to make you feel awkward at times, and its the unexpected twist and turns that makes this film so cringingly enjoyable.
It may not be brilliant but, its definitely daring and doesn't hold back in slightest. A feel bad comedy that can't help but make you feel better.
