Delusional. Psychopath. Despot. Fascist. Avenger. Head of mall security. Ronnie Barnhardt (Seth Rogen), the twisted “hero” of writer-director Jody Hill’s Observe and Report, is all of these things. While comparisons between this film, Paul Blart: Mall Cop and Taxi Driver have already been done to death, they are nevertheless appropriate. But where Blart went for safe laughs, Observe and Report aspires to do nothing less than turn the mainstream comedy genre on its head with malevolent glee. Obviously, such an unapologetic approach will divide audiences.
Ronnie is the top (rent-a-)cop at the Forest Ridge Mall, which he lords over as if he were a Marine guarding the White House. Although he still lives at home with his alcoholic mom (Celia Weston), at work Ronnie suffers no fools, brooks no insults and metes out swift justice (to skateboarders, shoplifters and the like). Despite his unswerving dedication to protect and serve, he still can’t win people’s respect, especially that of buxom make-up saleswoman and his dream girl Brandi (Anna Faris).
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