Observe & Report
1.5/4
Starring: Seth Rogen, Ray Liotta, Anna Faris, Michael Pena, Collette Wolfe
Rated R for Pervasive Language, Graphic Nudity, Drug Use, Sexual Content and Violence
When you make a dark comedy like this, you either go all the way or you don't make the movie. Last year's "Bad Teacher" worked because director Jake Kasdan and his screenwriters pulled out all the stops. We weren't meant to like Diaz's character, and that's what gave the movie its edge. In "Observe & Report," first-time filmmaker Jody Hill can't decide how he wants us to feel about his lead character. Sure, he's a freak, but there are times when Hill wants us to like him.
Ronnie Barnhardt (Rogen) is the head of mall security at a local mall. He's bipolar, has an unhealthy fixation on Brandi the cosmetics girl (Faris) and takes his job way too seriously. That's the setup for the plot, which involves Ronnie trying to catch a flasher. Also in the mix are a police detective, Harrison (Liotta), for whom Ronnie is an unending annoyance and Nell (Wolfe), a born-again Christian who loves him and gives him his free coffee.
The film's biggest problem is that it's way too long. Ronnie never shuts up; whether he's doing a voice over, or a "fuck you" sparring match with Saddam (Aziz Ansari), he never shuts his trap. And because little of what he says is of any interest, much less funny, it quickly becomes boring. Also problematic is the film's humor, or lack thereof. Hill is too close to his characters, and is unwilling to send them through the shredder of true black comedy. The humor is too soft or simply not there. When Hill sends up the "hero everyman" cliches, the film is hits the mark. Unfortunately, these scenes only take up about 10 minutes of the total screen time.
Seth Rogen does an about face from his usual genial chubster stuff. His work here would be effective if he were given better material. Rogen is effective (he plays Ronnie as a cross between Kevin James and a truly weird version of Jonah Hill), but there's little he can do for the film. Ditto for Anna Faris, who sometimes goes over the top. Michael Pena is boring, and John and Matt Yuan (who play the Yuens, Ronnie's "infantry") are nonentities. Ray Liotta looks like he'd rather be anywhere else. The only one who manages to attract the mind and (surprisingly) the heart is Collette Wolfe. She's adorable, and frankly, the only reason we wish Ronnie well (something that we're clearly not supposed to do) is because we want her to be happy.
Jody Hill is one of the creative forces behind the HBO comedy "Eastbound & Down." I've seen an episode or two of the show, and it's not my forte. The humor is too low-key. I like my humor upfront and undiluted. Still, not even a different approach would have made much difference with "Observe & Report." It bares its gums when it should have fangs.
Starring: Seth Rogen, Ray Liotta, Anna Faris, Michael Pena, Collette Wolfe
Rated R for Pervasive Language, Graphic Nudity, Drug Use, Sexual Content and Violence
When you make a dark comedy like this, you either go all the way or you don't make the movie. Last year's "Bad Teacher" worked because director Jake Kasdan and his screenwriters pulled out all the stops. We weren't meant to like Diaz's character, and that's what gave the movie its edge. In "Observe & Report," first-time filmmaker Jody Hill can't decide how he wants us to feel about his lead character. Sure, he's a freak, but there are times when Hill wants us to like him.
Ronnie Barnhardt (Rogen) is the head of mall security at a local mall. He's bipolar, has an unhealthy fixation on Brandi the cosmetics girl (Faris) and takes his job way too seriously. That's the setup for the plot, which involves Ronnie trying to catch a flasher. Also in the mix are a police detective, Harrison (Liotta), for whom Ronnie is an unending annoyance and Nell (Wolfe), a born-again Christian who loves him and gives him his free coffee.
The film's biggest problem is that it's way too long. Ronnie never shuts up; whether he's doing a voice over, or a "fuck you" sparring match with Saddam (Aziz Ansari), he never shuts his trap. And because little of what he says is of any interest, much less funny, it quickly becomes boring. Also problematic is the film's humor, or lack thereof. Hill is too close to his characters, and is unwilling to send them through the shredder of true black comedy. The humor is too soft or simply not there. When Hill sends up the "hero everyman" cliches, the film is hits the mark. Unfortunately, these scenes only take up about 10 minutes of the total screen time.
Seth Rogen does an about face from his usual genial chubster stuff. His work here would be effective if he were given better material. Rogen is effective (he plays Ronnie as a cross between Kevin James and a truly weird version of Jonah Hill), but there's little he can do for the film. Ditto for Anna Faris, who sometimes goes over the top. Michael Pena is boring, and John and Matt Yuan (who play the Yuens, Ronnie's "infantry") are nonentities. Ray Liotta looks like he'd rather be anywhere else. The only one who manages to attract the mind and (surprisingly) the heart is Collette Wolfe. She's adorable, and frankly, the only reason we wish Ronnie well (something that we're clearly not supposed to do) is because we want her to be happy.
Jody Hill is one of the creative forces behind the HBO comedy "Eastbound & Down." I've seen an episode or two of the show, and it's not my forte. The humor is too low-key. I like my humor upfront and undiluted. Still, not even a different approach would have made much difference with "Observe & Report." It bares its gums when it should have fangs.
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