'Paul Blart: Mall Cop' - High-Def Digest Review

[Attebery]

Our review of 'Paul Blart: Mall Cop' has been posted. This movie grossed $150 million, which we'll chalk up as a mystery. This Blu-ray has ok video, audio, and extras, but nothing really stands out. A rental.

Full review here:
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/2215...rtmallcop.html

[rainman208]

Wow $150 million, that is surprising. I like James but I think I'm still gonna pass on this one.

[typ44q]

Originally Posted by rainman208

Wow $150 million, that is surprising. I like James but I think I'm still gonna pass on this one.

exactly my thoughts.
I had no desire to see this in the theater or own it but I do have this in my rental queue.

[jsmiddleton4]

"'Paul Blart: Mall Cop' is a movie whose success I just don't understand. It's a banal, non-descript comedy that still somehow managed to gross over $150 million at the box office."

Yep.

[Hi-Def Steve]

I enjoyed it. It was a pretty mindless comedy, which is fine with me. No way I'm going to shell out nearly $30 though.

[Hastor]

I just watched a rented copy of this movie, and I'd say "Give it a rent" is the proper overall comment for it, but I'd give it 3 out of 5. It does follow the underdog formula to a tee, though what I think impressed me and many that liked it is that it remained very clean. Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of South Park, Family Guy, and Troma movies. However, it takes a certain skill to be as funny as comedy that can rely more on shock but remain suitable for basically all audiences. Had this been a PG-13 or R rated comedy, I'd totally agree with the two stars, but being just as funny without needing adult comedy earns some kudos to me. It reminds me of the era of film making when they had no choice but to be clever because shock and gross out jokes just weren't an option. Some can combine both well, but if you want a funny, albeit standard, underdog story that isn't likely to offend anyone in the house, it succeeds. The worst I heard in it was "badass", and don't remember anything else that might be considered cursing, though I may have missed something. I'm by no means a martyr for keeping cinema clean, my favorites including films of Kevin Smith and Quentin Tarantino, but it is nice to see that a solid movie can be made without the adult content. Sure the kids will probably like it a little more than the adults, because they don't realize how many movies like this have already been made, and even many jokes are versions of ones we've seen before, but my inner child enjoyed it quite a bit. Expect plenty of "Why doesn't he just.... blah blah blah" moments, but I expect that out of the genre because the movie wouldn't have anywhere to go if it always followed logic, just like a horror movie where people run upstairs from a killer. Not a dealbreaker. Still don't plan on buying it, but it was worth the rent. Deleted scenes are hit and miss but worth watching for the hits, that is, if you liked the character to begin with.

[cheez avenger]

I'll never see this.


I think Kevin James is one of the unfunniest guys on earth.

[imdaly]

Swear to god, this movie was somehow still at the theater in my mall a few weeks ago when I went to see "Monsters Vs. Aliens" on opening night...

[Amiable-Akuma]

Watched this on blu last night with the wife. The transfer is sharp but rather flat in terms of color - kind of like Talladegga Nights: Ricky Bobby. Definitely not demo material.

As a movie itself, it is clearly inferior to most of the "good" comedies people have been buying on blu (i.e. Anchorman, Virgin, Walk Hard, etc).

My wife and I were laughing out loud several times at the start of the movie, but it does run completely out of steam/humor pretty quickly following a karaoke bar scene. The rest of the movie is just very poorly scripted/conceived. Leaves whatever potential it had so far behind its not even funny.

[RoadLizard]

Originally Posted by jsmiddleton4

"'Paul Blart: Mall Cop' is a movie whose success I just don't understand. It's a banal, non-descript comedy that still somehow managed to gross over $150 million at the box office."

Yep.

Hence, the movie-going population has a collective IQ with a decimal in front of the number.

This is why they keep making useless films like this and those even more useless romantic comedies that always seem to star Owen Wilson and some retread from the TV show Friends.

[GardenVariety]

I just watched (some) of this movie and I have to say this is about the most overrated, horribly unfunny movie I've had the displeasure of watching this year. I cannot believe it did so well at the box office. I'm very disappointed in Happy Madison for this one. Turned it off after 30 minutes. Very happy I didn't buy it.

[Vipper VI]

Originally Posted by GardenVariety

I'm very disappointed in Happy Madison for this one.

Have you seen Happy Madison's other productions? The company isn't exactly synonymous with "quality."

[Hastor]

Originally Posted by Amiable-Akuma

As a movie itself, it is clearly inferior to most of the "good" comedies people have been buying on blu (i.e. Anchorman, Virgin, Walk Hard, etc).

I think what a lot of people don't get is that this is aimed at a younger audience. None of the better examples you list, that others are comparing this to, are suitable for a PG audience. I do think all of those movies are better, I'll never buy Paul Blart, but I own Walk Hard on BD. This is one for the kids that haven't had their equivalent of Anchorman or 40 Year Old Virgin, and also haven't seen this plot formula enough times to be tired of it. It is like comparing Curious George to Family Guy. I was entertained enough for it to be worth the rental, and as I said in my post above, respected its attempt to stay clean. Most of the funniest moments in the movies this is being compared to just couldn't make a PG rating, and that is a challenge. I expect it only to be enjoyed by kids, families watching with kids, or people interested in how to make a formula movie that is typically PG-13 or R into a PG film. Not the best of its genre, but not terrible, and the only of its genre with a family rating in a long time. I didn't realize how hyped it was, no one I talk to had seen it and I wasn't aware of its box office take, so I watched it with low expectations and liked it a little more than I thought I would. If you are expecting something great from the hype, it won't live up. I doubt you'll find a 10 year old that wouldn't enjoy it though, unless they are told it isn't good before they can form their own opinion. I still stand by the reviewer's "Give it a Rent" rating. Audiences too young for adult humor just haven't had a decent live-action underdog movie in recent years (and no, Underdog doesn't count! As good or a movie!). In that respect, this movie delivers.

As far as Happy Madison productions, the only other movie I'm aware of seeing by them is "Grandma's Boy" which I found extremely overhyped and insulting to anyone that knows the first thing about game development. I'm no game developer but I know the difference between bitmapping and bumpmapping, though that one is forgivable. What I found really distracting is that the characters didn't seem like parodies of any real nerds I know, and the fact that one guy is making an Xbox game that would have taken a team months to put together. I kept feeling like the movie was saying "We think you're an idiot and won't know any better" just like Independence Day did. Either of those movies could have gone completely goofy with the technology and used made up terms, or gotten it right, instead they try to sound like they know what they are talking about when they don't, just tossing out words they remember seeing in the last issue of Game Informer where they don't belong. It isn't hard to find a nerd around a movie studio to ask.

[ben1080p]

This movie was so boring. It was the most flat movie experience I've had in awhile. Pass and go for Observe & Report.

[bfellow]

Originally Posted by RoadLizard

Hence, the movie-going population has a collective IQ with a decimal in front of the number.

This is why they keep making useless films like this and those even more useless romantic comedies that always seem to star Owen Wilson and some retread from the TV show Friends.

If you are referring to Marley and Me, then you must not have seen it as its only partly a romantic comedy and based on an autobiography.