Observe and Report

Every other review I've read of this movie compares it to Paul Blart: Mall Cop, the surprise comedy blockbuster from three months ago, so why break tradition? - If Martin Scorsese had written and directed Paul Blart, the result would probably be very similar to Observe and Report. The hero of the story is Ronnie Barnhardt, a bipolar mall cop with sadistic tendencies, delusions of grandeur, prone to flying into fits of violent rage, is racist and simple-minded, and known to snort drugs once in a while. His saving grace that attaches him to us? The guy does usually mean well, in a warped way, and a lot of the things he says are very funny.

Yes, Observe and Report is a comedy, but it's an uncomfortable one. Writer-director Jody Hill (last year's indie comedy The Foot-Fist Way) seems to delight in shoving these unsavory characters in our faces, and making us laugh at them, even if we occasionally squirm in our seats at the things we see them doing or doing to each other. As a comedy, it's easily the funniest I've seen so far this year. For Ronnie (who is played by Seth Rogen, giving a hilarious performance here), there are two women in his life. There's his alcoholic mother whom he lives with (Celia Weston), who likes to remind him that it was his fault his father walked out on them. And then there's Brandi (Anna Faris), the woman who works at a make up counter in a department store at the mall. Brandi generally views Ronnie and his affections with disgust and appalled rage, but Ronnie's delusional mind still sees a chance for them to be together. That's why he's quick to take advantage of the situation when Brandi needs his help, after she has a run-in with a pervert who has been terrorizing female mall patrons and employees in the parking lot.

The pervert in question is a flasher, who is prone to showing his privates to anyone who approaches him. Brandi is psychologically scarred by her encounter, and Ronnie sees the chance to help her by making it his personal mission to track the pervert down. That's why he's offended when the manager of the mall calls a real police detective in on the case. The detective is Harrison (Ray Liotta), and he immediately clashes with Ronnie, who views the mall as his territory to protect and Harrison as an intruder. Harrison plainly sees Ronnie's racist and violent tendencies, and would rather let the idiot go on his own way. But the guy won't leave him alone, and even breaks into his police car at one point so he can ride along with him on a job. As the film went on, I found myself fascinated by the character of Ronnie. He's almost child-like in his refusal to accept anything but his own personal view, but he is certainly not innocent. In the character, Seth Rogen has found a perfect leading role for him, who is offbeat enough to fit his comic talents. After being disappointed by his lead turns in films like Knocked Up and Zack and Miri Make a Porno (which tried to uncomfortably shove him into generic romantic comedy roles), as well as Pineapple Express (where he was overshadowed by co-star James Franco), Rogen makes this role his own.

Observe and Report is a biting satire, and surprisingly dark and twisted for a comedy released by a mainstream studio. The closest comparison to this movie would be Bad Santa, as they both feature anti-heroes whose behavior and lack of common decency drive the plot. Even when the movie follows convention, such as when Ronnie slowly starts to develop a relationship with a nice girl who works at the coffee shop and gives him free coffee every morning (Collette Wolfe), it still manages to surprise us in little ways. It's a comedy that's not afraid to show us the worst in human nature, and make us laugh at it. It also poses some interesting ethical questions for the audience, such as why are people so offended by the nudity of the pervert, but when Ronnie violently beats some punk kids or nearly kills a man, he is treated as a hero? I am reminded of the old Hollywood joke - If your movie features a scene where a guy stabs a woman's breast with a knife, you'll get an R-rating. If your movie features a scene where a guy kisses a woman's breast, you'll get an NC-17.

This is a very funny movie, though. Probably the funniest I've seen since Tropic Thunder. It's not the kind of comedy the ads make it out to be, though. The commercials seem to be leading audiences to think this is another raunchy, screwball-fest. There is a lot of sadness behind the laughs, particularly with the character of Ronnie and how he constantly seems to be on the edge of breaking down, or maybe just snapping and killing someone. This is a movie that sometimes crosses the line, but never so much so that we become offended or lose interest in the characters. Hill's screenplay seems to be on a constant balancing act, as well as the performances. Anna Faris plays against type as the boozing and manipulative Brandi. It's a nice change of pace from her usually ditzy characters, and proves she can be quite a challenging comic actress. As for Ray Liotta, he's finally found a role where his tendency to overact actually seems to suit him.

Sometimes I admire movies for what they try to do. Observe and Report is admirable in its edginess (especially for a movie getting a mainstream release), but it goes a lot deeper than that. The movie is also tightly paced, never wears out its welcome, and is just a thrill to watch. At least it was for me. I already know this won't be a movie for everyone, and it will probably turn off a lot of viewers. It does have the makings of a cult classic, though. It also excites me for what Jody Hill has in store for us next.

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