So, if you're used to Seth Rogan's films you'll probably expect a stoner comedy, written on rizla with all the wit and class of a billionaire US president...However, this is a genuinely good film. It's dark - with an offbeat sensibility, but, I highly recommend it it if you haven't had a lobotomy and can appreciate a subtlety you won't often see - especially from it's lead.It has a disgustingly low score here - probably because mouth breathers are expecting something like the cinematic equivalent of opium...this reminded me more of something akin to the Cornetto trilogy...you'll like it if you get half the jokes, but if you can pick up on underlying humour then I think you'll like it more.Not necessarily a cerebral movie, but definitely above average and a hidden gem for those who have seen the same thing over and over from the likes of Happy Madison et al.

You have to admit that when you are watching most comedies there are a number of things that you have to overlook. Be it plot, plausibility, dialog, depth of purpose etc. One in a thousand comedies can be considered high brow art. I think the thing most critics missed in their analysis is that they didn't like Ronnie's many highly socially awkward moments. It makes the critics sense of sensibility go into crisis lock down mode then they hate it all. This film has a great plot (for a comedy), it has really exceptional cinematography, good social commentary. I did like how well they captured the grandiose nature of a type 1 bi-polar person with hilarious grand Hollywood style epic scenes. The cop fight, the skateboarder beat down/drug binge, shooting the flasher etc. also there were subtle things in the movie that were hilarious. Ronnie's detective board, the candid shots of people in the mall, looks that the flasher made during the chase. Normally I hate the moments of heart in comedies. But there were some good ones Especially with the cop in slicked back hair, the drunk mom and Ronnie at the end of the date.The film left me questioning my dreams and possible grandeur by showing how easy the social fabric of society can turn on you based on one conversation or bad relationship with one person. It also showed how many times those socially unacceptable conversations or situations can be irrelevant. I guess the critics can't handle that.

Observe and Report is the second of two mall security person movies to be released in 2009. This film is definitely not nearly as family- friendly, and is more vulgar to the taste. I sort of thought it was a funny movie, but it had a mean-spirited tone which somehow I was not able to digest. Short in length, the film wastes no time telling you what kind of movie it is and at least the film knows it's a stupid movie. I liked Paul Blart better, but this film does have a certain charm and it was pretty funny at points. Jody Hill's movie is about is about a mall security guard named Ronnie. After a flasher exposed himself at the mall, Ronnie makes it a priority to catch the flasher. Trouble arises when the flasher exposes himself to the girl of his dreams thus bringing in the cops, in particular the shady Detective Harrison. The acting is pretty good, I thought. Seth Rogen does a relatively good job as Ronnie, though he could have been a little nicer. Ray Liotta made a fine detective and is not as corrupt as other cops he has played. I also thought Michael Pena did a solid job as Ronnie's right-hand man who gave this film a surprising twist. Overall, Observe and Report is an okay movie, but don't expect anything special. I'm all down for raucous comedies, but it goes a little overboard when things get mean, blatantly obvious mean. There are many jokes, and a lot of them do manage to be effective. But in the end, Paul Blart was the better movie this year. But I still sort of liked the film. I rate this film 7/10.

At first glance an inevitable comparison to the Kevin James vehicle 'Paul Blart' springs to mind. To be fair you wouldn't be all that far off either, the whole basis for this film is very similar lets be honest. Both characters are working as security men in a mall and are wannabe cops. Both characters are portrayed as taking their job way too seriously when in reality they are merely shop attendants in a blue uniform. And both characters try to change their lives by applying for a job on the police force despite everyone thinking they haven't got a chance.So yeah its pretty similar, the only major difference is the fact Rogen's character in this film is more unhinged and eerily prone to violent anger outbursts. This of course can be hilarious at times with Rogen's great comic personality and chubby features, but at the same time its also a bit disturbing and uncomfortable too.There are plenty of scenes in this which made me laugh out loud, the way Ronnie (Rogen) organises his small team of security men with the up most importance, as if they were special ops. His awkwardness around sexy perfume saleswoman Brandi (Farris perfectly cast as your typical airhead blonde...again), the way he acts with jealousy around real cop 'Harrison' (Liotta), his ongoing feud with Arab shopkeeper Saddamn and the way he exposes himself as slightly deranged, depressive and possibly dangerous to various people, especially in the police psychological examination.On the flip side there are times when the film feels ugly vicious a bit sad and over the top with the violence, profanity and blood. The sequence where Rogen's character takes Brandi out for a meal, she gets drunk and then they end up having sex, is rather dubious. Why? because Brandi is completely out of it and vomiting whilst Ronnie is banging her. It does seem a tad like rape, but at the same time the sight of Farris' head lurching to one side with puke on the pillow whilst Ronnie goes at it is amusing I can't deny, a nervous laugh there.There are other moments throughout which seem to go a bit too far also, showing 'Ronnie's' anger, the fight with the cops and Liotta's character, and the finale for the flasher. Its all kinda funny but kinda edgy too, at times you're thinking is it OK to laugh at this?Saying this is a dark comedy is an understatement, its darkly dark alright and Rogen's cynical, sinister, in your face performance will either leave you laughing, cogitating or hating. I think I prefer this over the Kevin James film simply because Rogen's performance is appealing to me here plus this film is more grounded ('Blart' goes down that 'Die Hard' route). The ending is a bit simple and anti climatic but its a totally fun and rather controversial ride to get there.6/10