We’re still reeling from the rubbish efforts of Mall Cop, so it’s less than comforting to be dealt another American shopping mall and cop-related story.
Seth Rogen plays manic-depressive security guard Ronnie Barnhardt, who works at Forest Ridge Mall. After a series of flasher incidents at the shopping centre, Ronnie takes it upon himself to foil the trouble-maker but is ridiculed and humiliated by his colleagues – and the girl of his dreams. Determined to prove himself and stop the anonymous flasher, Ronnie sets out to earn respect and become a police officer to prove himself to his colleagues.
With a few mildly humorous moments, Observe and Report does little more than produce a lacklustre story with some rather poor acting. Reserve this film-flop for the bargain bin pick-up on a quiet weekend

Observe and Report

Dir Jody Hill, starring Seth Rogen, Ray Liotta, Michael Pena

 

 

[Originally published in Abu Dhabi Week vol 2 issue 19]