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Letterboxd Reviews

So as you know, I stopped writing lengthy reviews on this site this year, keeping the blog as more of a film diary of sorts.  Lo and behold,...

Friday, July 10, 2009

Movie Review - Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009)

Starring Kevin James and Jayma Mays
Written by Kevin James and Nick Bakay
Directed by Steve Carr

This flick has only been out for six months and it's already the butt of jokes (Brüno contains a reference to it). By no means is this a good flick, but it's not quite as bad as the jokes may make you think it is.

The reason for that is Kevin James -- I think he's a reasonably likable guy in this movie. I enjoy him on King of Queens, and I must admit that I thought he was pretty decent in this ridiculous movie. In fact, for the most part, the actors in this were much better than in other Adam Sandler-produced Happy Madison productions.

Blart is a mall cop who takes his job very seriously. However, when (the nicest ever) hijackers take over the mall, Blart is the only one who can help the five hostages. There's a silly love story between Blart and mall worker, Amy (the cute Jayma Mays, who I first saw and liked immensely in the underrated thriller Red Eye a few years ago), and although it's stupid, it didn't feel nearly as forced as it could have.

This isn't a good movie, but it isn't necessarily a horrible one.

RANDOM THOUGHT: A movie pet peeve of mine was evident in this flick: using 80s music to try and bring about cheap laughter. A corny 80s song does not equal hilarity -- and they attempt this laugh six or seven times in this movie. Barry Manilow does not automatically receive a chuckle. Sorry.

The RyMickey Rating: D+

7 comments:

  1. I guess it makes sense that it would try to make fun of 80's music.

    It is trying to make fun of an 80's movie. (Die Hard)

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  2. It's just pointless.

    I know Tom has a pet peeve of movies taking place in the 80s just to make fun of the clothes/music/etc.

    Definitely a similar irk here for me...but I don't care if your main character grew up in the 80s (I did)...we don't need the 80s cheesy anthems to tell us that. No point whatsoever...

    It's (obviously) no Die Hard.

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  3. I was a little disapointed in it too. It was our one movie out for the year, I guess I thought it would be more for adults then kids. Oh well!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your one movie out this year and you chose this?

    Poor, poor thing...

    But, hey! At least you probably get to watch Disney movies until you're sick of them all day at your house...

    Nothing like Monsters, Inc. over and over and over and over and over again.

    [At least they better be Disney movies...there better not be much Spongebob crap around that household! Then again, if I know you, you should be raising that girl right!]

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  5. We liked Kevin James, we had high hopes!

    No Spongebob, don't worry! I am waiting for Toy Story to come back out on DVD. We had the VHS (She looked really confused when she saw it) and keeps trying to put it in the DVD player! She also like Phineas and Pherb (on Disney Channel)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Okay...the no Spongebob is a relief.

    There's nothing I despise more than falling asleep to whatever Nick at Nite has on and then waking up to Spongebob's grating voice.

    I've actually seen a bit of Phineas and Ferb...not too bad...

    I'm gonna shoot you an e-mail soon...we need to get together so you can pick up your request from Disney...

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  7. Psh. Like you enjoyed die hard jeff.
    I agree that this movie wasn't THAT bad. but having just seen the hangover, that movie was certainly better. it had it's weak parts. and the end with the asian thing was a disappointment, but it was still funnier than paul blart.
    by the way...Hotel for Dogs!!!! WOOHOOOOO!!!!
    and i agree on the 80s soaring power ballad as not being a good laugh-getter. There's a time and place for it. It's okay if it's not overkill. but it certainly was here.

    ReplyDelete