Report And Observations

Observe And Report has gotten mixed reviews. No surprise, because the film isn't exactly a romp, though it's being sold as one. In fact, it's dark and violent. It really is, as some have noted, Travis Bickle as a mall cop. (I guess I'll be describing the film a bit, so spoilers ahead.)

 

Ultimately, I can't recommend it, and not because my taste is so different from my friends. The film is still a comedy and my problem is--you can't get around it--it's not funny enough. But I'm glad writer-director Jody Hill was willing to go all the way with it. Instead of delivering the same safe thing we've seen a thousand times, he took a big star (who was willing to play along) and put him in something exceedingly harsh.

The hero is a violent, stupid, racist psycho. The girl is an empty-headed, drug-addicted slut. The mom is an unredeemed alcoholic. The best friend is a thief. There are many ugly scenes. The characters do harsh, disturbing things and they're not saved by some higher reason or inner sweetness that makes them sympathetic.

I'm guessing because Hill defies the cliches, word of mouth will be bad. It's the anti-Paul Blart, and thus will fail. But at least someone was willing to go for it. Maybe all films shouldn't be like this, but it's good at least one is.

PS J. Hoberman's review ends with this:

Ronnie the Mall Cop is as an iconic expression of irate proletarian populism and brainless role-playing as Joe the Plumber or Rush the Limbaugh—identify or ignore at your peril.

J., I understand the world you live in allows you to dismiss Joe and Rush without a thought, but far from being fictional violent psychotics, they're real people who make actual arguments that have to be dealt with, as unpleasant a prospect as that may be for you.