Observe and Report (2009)

I understand why most people didnt like this film, but it is really too bad. Not everything in this world is going to fit into your preconceived ideas of the way things should be. The good guys dont always win, and the heroes aren't always nice. Observe and Report is a great example of that. The "hero" in this film, Ronnie, continues down a path of monumentally bad moral and legal decisions. All the while believing that he is valiant and just. This, combined with his way of dealing with his own metal shortcomings, makes him horribly endearring. The humor in this film is all around, if you just let yourself stop taking it so seriously. I mean, really, haven't you ever just wanted to smack one of those skateboard rinding mall punks around just once? I joke, but that is the flavor of the film. None of the characters in this film are the kind of people that you want to know, but they are fun to watch.

Not to say that writer/director Jody Hill is the new Scorscese (he's not), but I was constantly reminded of Scorscese's early 80s disturbo-comedy "King of Comedy" when watching this. Whereas Scorscese uses stark realism, though, Hill uses the conventions and expectations of modern comedy to nail us. This could have easily been another crude and rude comedy along the lines of Superbad or Pineapple Express. Those (hell, most) comedies made today feature borderline-sociopathic, emotionally-retarded, and hopelessly immature males. Hill simply tips his characters over the edge. There is no denying that Ronnie (Seth Rogan) is a full-blown psychopath. What's surprising is how close this character is to every other character Seth Rogan has ever played!

Your reaction to this film will be greatly effected by your expectations. If you expect an extremely dark, yet often silly, film instead of yet another "Superbad" or, god forbid, "Paul Blart: Mall Cop", you should not be disappointed in the least.

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Upon going into the theatre for "Observe and Report" on its opening day, I was under the impression that I was about to see an 18A-rated Mall Cop.

Boy, was I surprised when I found out how wrong I was.

Nevertheless, dark comedies have always been something I've had a knack for, and if you're expecting a "Mall Cop for adults", you best not even touch the DVD. Because believe me, Observe and Report is a dark, twisted, and VERY violent romp through bi-polar disorder, drug use, date rape, and a man running around and flashing people.

If I haven't put you off seeing this movie, you can continue reading this review.

Yeah, something tells me I put a bunch of people off watching this movie just by that comment in the above paragraph alone. The 2.5 star out of 5 rating is caused mostly by people who walked into this movie not knowing the dark film they were about to see, and expecting a sex comedy. If anything, I was surprised when I decovered its dark comedy. Nonetheless I enjoyed it quite a bit. Fronted by Seth Rogen, Observe and Report is the chronicles of an every-day man with bipolar disorder and the obnoxious tendencies that consume him.

Seth Rogen plays Ronnie Barndhart, a security guard at a shopping mall in New Mexico. He has bipolar disorder, which does get him in quite a bit of trouble. He lives with his mom, who is an alcoholic, but loves him dearly. He enjoys seeing the incredibly cute Nell at the coffee shop every day and getting free coffee from her, and enjoys talking to Brandi, who works in the makeup department of a Sears-type store.

However, a streaker has been wreaking havoc at the mall. He goes around flashing people in the parking lot and in the mall. Ronnie, and the rest of the security team have a plan to take the streaker and turn him in to the police department. One day, on her way to work, the streaker flashes Brandi, mentally scarring her. After talking to her and comforting her, Ronnie seems to develop displays of affection towards Brandi and even asks her out. The rest of the movie turns into a twisted and violent romp that is definitely not for the prudish, but most definitely NOT for the faint of heart!

Observe and Report is a brutal and twisted movie, but that's to say that I enjoyed it immensely! In fact, I like to look at this movie as a twisted stage play. This could actually work as a really good stage play, as the writing had sort of a theatrical feel to it, as if the story could work well on stage too. Rogen turns in a wonderful performance as Ronnie, our bipolar anti-hero for the 86 minutes. Anna Faris also excels here, with her portrayal of the adorably slutty Brandi. All of the cast seems to be especially great here, with no question.

As the film approaches its last 30 minutes, you feel as if you dunno whether or not you're watching the movie or having a REALLY messed up dream. There is a date-rape scene in there that has caused outrage among some viewers, which, if looked at correctly, is rather darkly funny (I think rape is a horrible but it was done humorously). The violence, especially for a comedy, is surprisingly brutaland even exaggerated in some aspects too. The dark tones are evident there, as you see some of the most twisted stuff in film ever. But that said... it's really good.

I can see why people would hate this movie. It certainly is NOT for everybody. So many will hate it and so few will actually et the point of it. But if you lower your expectations, this is a movie that is very enjoyable, and for that, remains a personal favorite of mine.

IN TOTAL:

Entertainment: 8/10

Sex: 4/10, or 3/10 if you don't count date rape

Violence: 6/10

Laughs: quite a few, but this is no laugh riot

Brutality: 10+/10

Rogen: Managed to pull it off very well

Surrealism: Am I watching a movie or having a messed up dream?

Litres of Tomato Ketchup: One 2L heinz bottle, rapidly squeezed at an alarming rate

***Recommended!***

Read Best Reviews of Observe and Report (2009) Here

This movie is the anti-thesis of every mall cop movie out there. Consider the mall security guard normally presented in movies as a screwball character with an overactive sense of purpose and superiority who continuously gets into stupid, impossible situations but wins the girl and the respect of everyone in the end. Now take a step back and imagine what that person would be like in real life: that is the essence of Observe & Report. It zooms in on that maniacal mall guard and keeps him under the microscope for a full analysis.

This movie is dark. The main character is bi-polar and borderline insane. The movie follows him during an awkward time in his life when he decides to ditch his meds and is obviously suffering due to not being on those meds. This begins when his grasp on reality and his sense of esteem and power is questioned when he is consumed with powerlessness by a flasher at the mall, who cannot be caught, followed closely by multiple robberies. The scenes that follow show a person careening out of control toward what would likely be suicide but in the end, finds redemption and self-worth and re-examines his life and priorities. Seth Rogen is a modern day anti-hero in a mall security guard guise.

I love this movie and all of Jody Hill's work as a writer and/or director. I do not expect everyone to love this movie; especially if you're expecting Pineapple Express or even Fist Foot Way (prior Jody Hill film starring Danny McBride). This is Jody Hill and Seth Rogen pushing the envelope and turning those expectations on their head. Their are moments of absolute hilarity in this move but they are often the kind of jokes that make you cringe somewhere inside or squirm uncomfortably. This can turn people away; but me, I love those movies. They challenge the audience to look at those around them a bit more deeply and not take everything at face value.

This is by far Jody Hill and Seth Rogen's best work. If you are a fan of either one, you will not be disappointed.

Regarding the blu-ray: excellent; crisp, clear, sharp and just fantastically done. I would have loved to see more extras but such is life. Maybe once the star ratings on Amazon reach 4-5, they can push Warner Brothers to chuck out more dough to stuff more stuff on the disc.

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This is one of the best comedies I've ever seen, and I've seen it 5 or 6 times. The poor reviews on here must all be from people who are offended by crude humor or nudity. Grow up.

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