Movie Review
Observe and Report
"Observe and Report" (quality rating:4 out of 10) Director: Jody Hill Screenplay: Jody Hill. Cast: Seth Rogen, Ray Liotta, Michael Pena, Anna Faris Time: 1 hr., 26 min. Rating: R (nonstop vulgarity, graphic nudity, drug use, sexual content, violence)
What in the world is "Observe and Report" trying to be? Erratic in its comic timing, awkwardly serious and mean in its drama, totally unconvincing in its basic premise, wildly improbable in its lead character, starkly unappealing in the man's obnoxious personality, stumbling and bumbling in its plot progress, this is, well, incomprehensible.
Comic scenes never get a chance to develop into a joke, the gaps between moments of failed gags being filled in by f-words.
Essentially, a near psychopathically confused mall security chief, Ronnie Barnhardt (Seth Rogen), egotistical beyond the norm, crazily arrogant, is also a lonely, deeply scared man, given to unbalanced anger in constant desperation. He has little awareness as to what's professional and what's personal.
What happens is that a serial flasher is scaring women out on the parking lot and Ronnie becomes obsessed with catching the weirdo (one weirdo chasing another, basically) before police detective Harrison (Ray Liotta) does and gets the credit for the capture.
Meantime, Ronnie is infatuated with pretty cosmetics girl Brandy (Anna Faris) whose ditzy reactions to everything lead, or hope to lead, to a real relationship.
But for Ronnie and the film, there really is nothing beyond his personality but pure delusion, his behavior giving pathetic a new meaning. That this sorrowful individual has managed to stay out of the loony bin so far is amazing.
As to the film, its lack of a comedy undercurrent, being unable to create enough momentum to get us from one joke to the next, is fatal. Time and again, it provides space for laughs that either never come or have to be forced. Follow-through is missing.
To its credit, the film does do a credible portrayal of the police department and especially of the psychological office where Ronnie must complete his job entry application. Credible, yes, but so very sad. The Ronnie character is not funny, just pitiable. This is the talented Seth Rogen, of course, and it's good to see him going for higher status in handling a multi-dimensional role. His interpretation of the role is actually OK in itself. But the film is ridiculous. Go away.
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Marty Meltz, 30-year former films critic for the Portland (Maine) Sunday Telegram. Offering right-to-the-point reviews that address directly the question of the film's entertainment value to you. Films have personalities. It doesn't matter who wrote it, who directs it, who stars in it, if it doesn't reach out to you with charisma. I examine its honesty and intelligence. Are you being respected, or are you being jerked around?
Article Source: Marty Meltz
Movie Review: Observe and Report