Customer Reviews

Observe and Report

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(47)

 

 

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.

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.

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 brutal- and 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!***

Ronnie is a mall cop with big dreams: he wants to be a cop. Partly to carry a gun, partly so people will finally respect him. When a flasher appears on his turf, it's war--especially when one of the victims is Brandi, the makeup-counter girl whom Ronnie has a crush on. But when a real detective intrudes in the case, Ronnie decides to take matters in his own hands--to win respect, to win the case, and to win the girl.

OBSERVE AND REPORT is perhaps the darkest comedy in ages. Seth Rogen does not play Ronnie as a beloved character, as many a lesser actor would; in Rogen's hands, Ronnie is a borderline-sociopath, a bipolar loser who is as hilariously aloof as he is dangerous. Anna Farris, as Brandi, is a comedic delight as always; she throws her self-esteem to the wind in order to wring the last little laugh from every scene. Michael Pena, as Ronnie's sidekick, is a scene-stealer. However, it's Ray Liotta who walks away with the only character to hold his own against Ronnie; as Detective Harrison, Liotta is tough and unforgiving, and the climax between the two ends the only way it could (though you'll be holding your breath the whole way).

In other words, Jody Hill's OBSERVE AND REPORT is the darkest of dark comedies, often bordering on a (non-supernatural) horror movie; the comparisons it's garnered to TAXI DRIVER are well-founded, and often-times you don't know whether to wince or laugh. Hill doesn't just take things too far; he takes them to limits no one else would dare to. OBSERVE AND REPORT is not a comedy for the squeamish, but it's certainly a film for those of us who don't mind a few chills with our humorous thrills.

So you went to see what you thought would be a straight-forward comedy starring Seth Rogen and found a dark, twisted, bleak look at the life of delusional man who never grew up. I say, KUDOS.
I had no idea what I was in for when started this movie, but found myself uncomfortable and even sometimes upset by what I was watching.
The deconstruction of a man who has built a perception of life around himself to guard him from the truth that he has accomplished nothing. Surrounding himself with supplicants to continue his delusional mindset Seth Rogen's character gets darker and darker until he practically self-destructs.
I don't want to give too much away, but while this may have been billed as a comedy and certainly that is what Rogen is best known for the performance delivered and the subject matter prove that Mr. Rogen has far more depth than I gave him credit for.
A very twisted tale with just the right amount of everything in all the right places. This movie will make you laugh, but it will also make you sad and I challenge you to watch this and see just how deep the mud actually goes. See if it swallows you too. It did me

Ronnie Barnhardt lives with his alcoholic mother. He's chief security guard at Forest Ridge Mall, where he's in love with Brandi, a cosmetic sales clerk, and gets a free coffee each day from Nell, a cheery clerk in the food court. A flasher haunts the mall's parking lot, and at night, thefts occur. Ronnie is intent on catching the criminals but has no investigative skills, is delusional about his abilities, and makes mad accusations. His bête noire is Detective Harrison, the city cop sent to investigate. Ronnie thinks he could be an officer, thinks he stands a chance with Brandi, and slowly loses his self control. Many people are turned off by this movie, Its easily one of the darkest comedies I've ever seen. There is some brutal violence, use of heroin and even essentially a date rape. But perhaps the darkest element of the story is Ronnie (Seth Rogen). This character is so twisted but fear not this movie is funny and sometimes extreme. You won't get what you expect, but if you see this movie, you just might enjoy it.

Seth Rogen can act. This darkly twisted comedy is the 'anti' Mall Cop film. It's not for the kiddies. It's not a date movie, unless your date is hip. If you want Paul Blart, go get Paul Blart. But this little film will be watched long after 'Blart' is forgotten.

Boy do the reactions to this film run the gamut!!! Reading the negative responses of some to the flick you would think it was a reincarnation of "Freddie Got Fingered". In my mind it harkens back to the askewed humor of "Bad Santa". Give kudos to director Jody Hill for pushing the envelope and challenging the audience. The central character, Ronnie(Seth Rogen), is a self-delusional manic depressive prone to violence. Rogen, whose star rises with each movie, injects just the right amount of empathy in Ronnie to make him palatable. Anna Faris goes against type in playing an unlikable cosmetics girl but it is no less an inspired turn on her part. The laugh quotient is high if your personal taste allows. I would recommend this flick to some but others beware.

Ok, this movie has gotten many bad Reviews, but honestly, i dont know what those people who gave bad reviews were thinking. Those who know & like Seth Rogan and his movies and/or are simply into Funny, Comedy, Humor, or "keep you laughing" type of movies will love watching it. You can compare OBSERVE AND REPORT to MALL COP because Seth Rogan plays a Mall Security Officer (Not Police related) and in many ways is similar to that movie. BUT, the difference is that OBSERVE AND REPORT is more intended for the Adult crowd. It starts out with a fat, ugly, Pervert, that goes around the parking lots of the Mall hunting and Flashing (AKA showing his Penis to) unsuspecting women. Seth, feeling that the hot girl he likes might be threatend by this sick man decides it's up to him to catch the creep and save the day. But after the "real" police step in to find the man, he feels that his chance to "hook up" with the girl he like will slip away. Later in the movie we find out Seth Rogan takes medication that helps him to not go mentally crazy, but still, all of a sudden he feels he doesnt need it any more and stops taking it (which causes his behavior to change). After he finds out the girl he likes is having sex with the Police Detective, he gets into more problems which almost causes him to lose his job. When he finally gets back on the right track, he captures the fat pervert, proffs to himself and everyone else he is capable of solving crimes, catching criminals, and is responsible enough to know how to hold and use a gun, and worthy of being a true police officer.

Seth Rogan and the other great actors in this movie work together to make OBSERVE AND REPORT one of the Best, Funny, Humoristic, movies you will ever get to enjoy. And for those No-Humor having people, who dont know how to appreciate a good movie when you see one (and great actors), dont try ruining it for the rest of the world, Thanks.

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.