Susan Granger’s review of “Observe and Report” (Warner Bros.)
Mix a bit of the psychologically complex Travis Bickle anti-hero character from “Taxi Driver” with the overzealous “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” and you have Ronnie Barnhardt (Seth Rogen), the lonely, self-delusional, misanthropic chief of security at the suburban Forest Ridge Mall, an authority figure ever on the alert for shoplifters and skateboarders.
While Ronnie still lives at home with his foul-mouthed, domineering, alcoholic mother (Celia Weston), he has a major crush on Brandi (Anna Faris), a sexy cosmetics-counter clerk. So when an elusive flasher in a trench coat and sneakers accosts customers in the parking lot, Ronnie is determined to protect patrons from this pervert and maintain control within his tiny fiefdom. Problem is: mall management has already summoned a real law-enforcement officer, Det. Harrison (Ray Liotta), to handle the situation. The cynical, tough Conway policeman has little patience for Ronnie’s arrogance, and the sentiment is mutual. Soon it becomes a brutal, full-fledged turf war.
Writer/director Jody Hill (“The Foot Fist Way”) amuses, astonishes and appalls with his incongruous, unpredictable, angst-and-anarchy impropriety, including disturbing violence, date rape, drugs and full-frontal male nudity. An advocate of “cringe comedy,” Hill acknowledges that he was influenced by Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver” (1976) and “King of Comedy” (1982). But Hill’s subversive characters, storyline and execution are far too uneven.
Seth Rogen audaciously captures the creepy, bi-polar persona of a pathetic vigilante with serious rage issues, expanding his range from comedies like “Superbad” and “Knocked Up,” while Ray Liotta embodies the cocky, hard-nosed veteran officer. Anna Faris proves why she’s one of the most reliable comediennes on the silver screen, and there’s a stalwart supporting cast, headed by Michael Pena (as a member of Ronnie’s security staff) and including Patton Oswalt and Azis Ansari.
On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Observe and Report” is an edgy, exploitive 5, earning its R-rating for pushing the acceptable boundaries of crude, dark comedy. But it’s not for mainstream audiences.
