BLOGS
Yes, Observe & Report is the second comedy about a mall security guard to come out this year (a fact Seth Rogen savagely mocked in his SNL monologue). However, if Paul Blart: Mall Cop was the Die Hard of mall security guard comedies (plotwise, at least), then Observe & Report is the Taxi Driver, and while I love me some Die Hard, O&R is infinitely more disturbing, and satisfying, and disturbingly satisfying. Depending on where your personal line is, this movie may not cross it, exactly, but it certainly walks up to the line and tasers you from a safe distance.
Director Jody Hill obviously has a love for unlikable main characters -- see Danny McBride in The Foot Fist Way and Eastbound & Down. (No, seriously, see them, unless you only like watching movies and TV shows about people you admire.) And in O&R he's managed to work his magic on Rogen, who plays mall security guard Ronnie Barnhardt, whose mall is plagued with a flasher, a thief, and meddling policemen who threaten to usurp his authority. We see Ronnie trash-talk his subordinates, racially profile several mall employees, have sex with a girl who is clearly too drunk to give her consent and savagely beat down several dozen people, including a gang of drug dealers, a group of skateboarding teenagers and, finally, an entire squad of policemen. While the first assault is in self-defense and actually comes off as more or less heroic, the second is gratuitously one-sided and played for laughs, and the last is tough to call -- by that point, Rogen's character is fairly crazed, but it's hard not to root for him, since you've traveled this far with him already.
Not everybody subscribes to the Church of Rogen. I found Knocked Up fairly bland, as it relied on me caring about a noncommittal Rogen and an overly serious Heigl. But here, Rogen isn't playing the ineffectual-yet-lovable schlub that seems to be his default character. He's actually playing... someone else. With his douchey haircut and his sweatpants-and-turtlenecks fashion sense, he transforms into a self-important gun nut, with no perception of the real world outside his bubble. Now, I'm not saying Ronnie is the new Travis Bickle, but he's definitely a delusional obsessive prone to acts of deadly violence. He's the product of a broken home, clinging to the tiny bit of power that he's managed to earn in the world. And that's before he goes off his meds. The aggressive behavior he exhibits both before and after that is arguably played for laughs, but is also clearly the product of some deep psychosis, likely brought on by his absent father and drunk mother -- the latter of whom, I have to admit, is one of the funniest parts of the movie, while still being a little bit sad.
But as dark as Ronnie's world is hinted to be, the movie is still a comedy, so it doesn't dwell on the badness too much, preferring to move on to the next bit of crazy. Its visual language seems to reflect Ronnie's bad-ass self-image: Awesome rock music plays over fight montages, training montages, drinking-binge montages, slow-motion escalator rides, night patrols and scenes of Ronnie stalking makeup counter girl Brandi, played to trashy perfection by Anna Faris. The film is also populated by a cast of hysterical actors: Michael Pena as Ronnie's lisping, Jheri-curled lieutenant; Jesse Plemons as the unsure security trainee; Ray Liotta as an older, crankier version of the cop he's played so often; Patton Oswalt in a small role as an unnecessarily cruel food court manager; Danny McBride's cameo as a crack dealer; and Aziz Ansari as the creepy mall vendor who rubs lotion on women when he's not feuding with Ronnie. So even when the ending descends into a naked, bloody mess, you'll still have plenty to laugh at.
Have you seen Observe & Report? Let me know what you thought about the film and Mr. Hill and Mr. Rogen in general below.
Sponsored Links
27 Comments
Add a comment
MOST RECENT POSTS
Wednesday, May 23, 2012: American Idol
Best Friends Forever: What We'll Miss about the Best Cancelled Sitcom of the 2011-12 Season
Today's TWoP News: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012: Glee
I Want My DVD: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
TV on DVD: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
The Cancelled 2011-12 TV Shows We'll Miss the Least
Today's TWoP News: Monday, May 21, 2012
BLOG ARCHIVES
The Moviefile
May 2012
15 Entries
April 2012
22 Entries
March 2012
26 Entries
February 2012
24 Entries
January 2012
25 Entries
December 2011
27 Entries
November 2011
22 Entries
October 2011
22 Entries
September 2011
29 Entries
August 2011
27 Entries
July 2011
30 Entries
June 2011
25 Entries
May 2011
13 Entries
April 2011
23 Entries
March 2011
22 Entries
February 2011
33 Entries
January 2011
39 Entries
December 2010
21 Entries
November 2010
29 Entries
October 2010
23 Entries
September 2010
25 Entries
August 2010
26 Entries
July 2010
29 Entries
June 2010
36 Entries
May 2010
22 Entries
April 2010
26 Entries
March 2010
30 Entries
February 2010
19 Entries
January 2010
19 Entries
December 2009
15 Entries
November 2009
21 Entries
October 2009
27 Entries
September 2009
30 Entries
August 2009
28 Entries
July 2009
34 Entries
June 2009
27 Entries
May 2009
24 Entries
April 2009
23 Entries
March 2009
18 Entries
February 2009
30 Entries
January 2009
56 Entries
December 2008
51 Entries
November 2008
61 Entries
October 2008
102 Entries
September 2008
86 Entries
August 2008
99 Entries
July 2008
116 Entries
June 2008
95 Entries
May 2008
86 Entries
April 2008
67 Entries
March 2008
14 Entries
Television Without Pity • © 2012 Bravo Media LLC • A Division of NBCUniversal •
did you know anna faris is 32
Gonna see this later today, but if I hadn't been planning to already, you'd have convinced me. This is a good review, amigo.
It's disgusting that this "comedy" features a rape scene.
I agree. Barnhardt raping another character (and yes, children, date rape is rape), it's no longer a comedy. If as it seems, this has no impact on the movie other than to accent the "He's so BAD!!!" "comedy", then I'll pass.
Yeah, "having sex with" someone who is too drunk to give consent isn't having sex. It's rape. And it's not actually funny.
I saw a free screening. I'm really glad it was free or I would have been pissed I spent $ on something that wasn't funny.
The one bright spot? Jesse Plemons
well i was going to see this, but this review convinced me otherwise. A scene where someone is being raped is not funny for me.
I don't see how date rape is any worse than the brutal child abuse that occurs in the movie. The movie is filled with people doing horrible things. How is date rape suddenly crossing the line?
20 minutes into the movie, I turned to my friend and said, this is not a comedy, this is the portrait of someone who goes and shoots up his workplace. It had funny moments, sure, but I saw the whole thing as insight into how some of these mass killers come to be. Better than "Elephant," I say.
Will this be Seth Rogen's "Cable Guy"?
I'm just tired of movies where Seth Rogen has sex.
"...have sex with a girl who is clearly too drunk to give her consent."
Rape. That's the word you're looking for. Sex requires consent from ALL participants.
If you see the movie, it's not exactly rape, she said, "why are you stopping, mother f**ker"
i thought it was funny at times, but i felt like the sad-but-true parts of it kind of outweighed the hilarity
"sex with a girl who is clearly too drunk to give her consent" IS THE DEFINITION OF RAPE. You should call it what it is. I'm super disappointed in TWOP that you guys are even suggesting the idea that this is edgy or entertaining, let alone funny. The fact that Faris wakes up briefly to mumble something that could be interpreted as encouraging only worsens the offense because it perpetuates the idea that this could be interpreted as ANYTHING but rape. When a person can't walk, passes out, is visibly sick, they cannot give consent. It's not funny, it's not a joke, and it does no one any good to blur that line for the viewing public. Sorry for the rant, but you guys are usually so reliable for calling BS when you see it. I can't believe you let this slide.
Apparently, rape is funny, or 'edgy' (edgily funny?) when it's Saint Seth of Rogen who makes it happen on the big screen. This must be avant garde humour, which our woman brains are too weak to understand.
@Caitlin: She is in NO CONDITION to give any sort of verbal consent because she is completely SHITFACED DRUNK.
That is called rape, but as long as it's soooo funny, that's ok.
I am so tired of this bullshit. So very, very tired.
For real. I read an interview with Rogen where he says that the rape scene seems icky at first, but ultimately it's okay because they have her ask why he's stopping. Um, no, that's not how it works. It is not consent if she is vomit-on-herself drunk. It's rape. And more importantly, if there is no consent when you START, then it is rape. There is no consent anywhere in this little story. If the critic finds it "hard not to root for" a rapist, I'm either really skeeved out by the critic, or really saddened that yet another movie has trivialized rape to the point where a critic wouldn't make more than a passing mention of it.
Of course, pointing this out tends to make people very defensive. ZOMG, feminazis are coming to take away teh funny.
OK you stupid fucks, he was chemically imbalanced (BIPOLAR) for one, and two he obviously isnt catching on to anything she does or says to put him down. rogen's character is blinded by her looks and interpreted everything she did as leading him on due to his heavy infatuation with her. combine the two and what do you have? a sad misunderstanding. it also didnt show her complaining at any point or going to the police. quit your fucking bitching her character was a floosie who didnt mind drunken sex.
Meh. I think Rogan pissed away a chance at an Oscar nom by treating this script like it was a Jud Apatow comedy instead of shooting for indie earnestness. Lack of imagination. Or talent, I guess. Would have been better served by a different director. And lead.
Meh. I think Rogan pissed away a chance at an Oscar nom by treating this script like it was a Jud Apatow comedy instead of shooting for indie earnestness. Lack of imagination. Or talent, I guess. Would have been better served by a different director. And lead.
@mike: A sad misunderstanding?! No, what you have is a man raping an unconcious woman and this shit-streak of a film trying to play that for laughs. There is a huge difference between drunken sex where both parties can consent and what is happening here. Having Anna Faris' character regain conciousness enough to drunkenly slur something that is seen as encouragement *after he has already started raping her* is just the film makers trying to pretend that this is even remotely consensual ("See! She's telling him not to stop! It can't be rape then!") and having a laugh at the expense of a woman being abused right on screen ("Ha ha! He's assaulting her and she likes it! What a joke!"). This is utterly disgusting and I am very disappointed at Television Without Pity for giving this a pass.
Seth Rogen will never not annoy the hell out of me. That is all.
Ok ok u guys think its date rape...but let me remind u the character Anna Faris played, she was a partier who would get intoxicated and have sex she was a party girl...Its not like production wanted to make it a date rape scene there ws the attempt to show that she wanted it to continue...There have been many crazy things in file(i.e the satitory rape in reader American History X bite the curb) don't you guys society can be messed up and this is a dark comedy the character is messed up if you cant except it than your are blinded and cannot accept the fact life is not a fairy tale.
yeah, it's a rape scene. no, it's not supposed to be funny. it's a harsh bit of characterization. why is SVU ok but this isn't? dark comedy isn't supposed to be funny throughout, and this one isn't. it has funny moments but it isn't a funny storyline. kudos to Rogen for having the balls to take it on.
Notice how there's not a SINGLE commenter with a male name in this thread who has condemned the rape in this movie. Pathetic.
And commenter Mike, could you be any more of a stereotype? Saying the victim deserved to be raped because she got drunk and and was pretty? Way to blame the victim. Do me a favor and read your exact post to every female in your life - your mother, your sister, your female friends. See what they think of you.
Well, that's a rather unfair statement.
The guys who agree with you likely aren't commenting because, well, they agree with you. What we're thinking has pretty much been said.
I'll admit I'm kind of a fan of Rogen. I like his characters, they tend to be the same guy, true, but I can appreciate it for some reason.
I was looking forward to this movie until I heard about the date rape scene; maybe I'll watch it eventually when it shows up on HBO or some shit, but I'm not going to put money into something that tries to pass something that heinous off as acceptable.
Also I'm laughing at you morons trying to justify it by saying she's a party girl or floozy. Good job on sounding like "she was askin' for it in that short skirt" douchebags. You truly are entitled bastards.
I got 30 minutes into this film and walked out. I like Seth Rogen but I didn't find anything funny in the first half hour. If a comedy doesn't get me right away, I'm not going to waste my time on it.
Great site. Good info.
everyone who said this movie isnt worth watching is a totally pussy, this movie is made for people with balls and not cry babies lame ass people omg rape sence wtf she told him too keep going and all bitches are sluts like that anyway so get over life losers. fucking faggits