Observe and Report

Seth Rogen abandons his genial-slacker persona in director Jody Hill's dark comedy set in and around a suburban shopping mall. Rogen's Ronnie Barnhardt is chief of mall security, a man who fancies himself an efficient guardian of law and order, which is why a flasher's persistent appearances on mall property have driven him to distraction. Belittled by a local police detective (Ray Liotta), Ronnie hopes to join the force himself but fails to pass the psychological exam and reluctantly returns to his job at the mall, determined to catch the flasher and safeguard the ditzy cosmetics salesgirl (Anna Faris) on whom he has a mad crush. But Ronnie isn't a benign dreamer: he's a borderline sociopath who guiltlessly date-rapes the salesgirl after getting her blind drunk, relentlessly harasses a vendor of Middle Eastern descent, and brutally pummels young boys he catches skateboarding in the mall's parking lot. Rogen is surrounded by excellent supporting players, including Michael Pena (as Ronnie's lisping, obsequious right-hand man), Collette Wolfe (as a temporarily handicapped barista), and, best of all, Celia Weston (as Ronnie's perpetually drunk, trailer-trash mom). Unlike the remarkably similar but infinitely inferior Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Rogen's bold departure film is consistently surprising, right up to its shocking climax. Recommended. [Note: Although the DVD release is extra-less, Blu-ray extras include a picture-in-picture commentary track featuring costars Seth Rogen and Anna Faris and writer/director Jody Hill, additional scenes (27 min.), a gag reel (12 min.), “Seth Rogen and Anna Faris: Unscripted” outtakes (8 min.), a “Basically Training” spoof featurette (7 min.), a “Forest Ridge Mall: Security Recruitment Video” spoof (3 min.), the BD-Live function, a bonus digital copy, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid Blu-ray extras package for a mostly winning film.] (E. Hulse)