Paul Blart does not consider himself to be one of life's successes; and neither does anyone else. His wife married him for an American passport, then left him. He wants to become a state tropper, but isn't accepted because of a health problem and so is stuck in a dead end job as a mall security ... Read review
With a heart that won't quit, a stomach that won't stop gurgling and a self-sworn oath to ... more
protect his turf, he's Paul Blart: Mall Cop.Mild-mannered Paul Blart (Kevin James, The King of Queens) has always had huge dreams of becoming a State Trooper. Until then, he patrols the local mall as a security guard. With his closely cropped moustache, personal transporter and gung-ho attitude, only Blart seems to take his job seriously. All that changes when a team of thugs raids the mall and takes hostages. Untrained, unarmed and a super-size target, Blart has to become a real cop to save the day.
Paul Blart (Kevin James ? I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY) is a hard worker, but has ... more
never landed his dream job of being New Jersey state trooper due to his excess weight. Determined to support his mother and his daughter, Blart takes the slightly less glamorous post as the security guard at his local shopping mall. He never complains, approaching the job with impressive diligence and pride, but doesn't get much respect for it. It's only when a group of misfits in Santa's Helper disguises take hold of the mall and several hostages, that Blart's would-be cop smarts come in handy and he gets a chance to shine. With a deadly situation on hand, Blart may finally be able to show the world (and his romantic interest, who just happens to be one of the hostages) what he's made of. Though the villains have several advantages over him, Blart has a Segway scooter and a big heart on his side.
Kevin James from TV's King of Queens stars as Paul Blart - a shopping centre security ... more
guard with a never-say-die attitude. After a group of thugs break into the Mall and take the patrons hostage Paul has the chance to prove his worth and become the hero he has always dreamt of being. With a heart that won't quit a stomach that won't stop gurgling and a self-sworn oath to protect his turf he's Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Mild-mannered Paul Blart (Kevin James The King of Queens) has always had huge dreams of becoming a State Trooper. Until then he patrols the local mall as a security guard. With his closely cropped moustache personal transporter and gung-ho attitude only Blart seems to take his job seriously. All that changes when a team of thugs raids the mall and takes hostages. Untrained unarmed and a super-size target Blart has to become a real cop to save the day.
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Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Advantages: Kevin James is great, very entertaining Disadvantages: A bit silly...but it is a comedy
Paul Blart does not consider himself to be one of life's successes; and neither does anyone else. His wife married him for an American passport, then left him. He wants to become a state tropper, but isn't accepted because of a health problem and so is stuck in a dead end job as a mall security guard. And he can't find a woman, although he has strong feelings for Amy, who works on a stall in the mall. He tries to make the best of things though by ... ...he always makes me smile. Paul Blart is one of life's bumblers and it seems that nothing will ever change that. However, Kevin James manages to get the audience behind him, or me at least, and it is this that carries the whole film. Of course, if you don't like him, then this is likely to make the film more than a little tedious. However, he is so likeable that I think the majority of people will find him entertaning.
Paul Blart does not consider himself to be one of life's successes; and neither does anyone else. His wife married him for an American passport, then left him. He wants to become a state tropper, but isn't accepted because of a health problem and so is stuck in a dead end job as a mall security guard. And he can't find a woman, although he has strong feelings for Amy, who works on a stall in the mall. He tries to make the best of things though by doing his job by the book - much to the dismay of speeding pensioners. Then a team of criminals decide to take over the mall, in the hope of escaping with thousands of dollars of mall money. Blart, who is initially unaware that anything is wrong, doesn't manage to escape with everyone else. Can he do anything to stop the criminals? Will he ever become a state trooper? And will he finally have the opportunity to prove himself to Amy?
I have always liked Kevin James, ever since I first saw him in The King of Queens and Everybody Loves Raymond, so I didn't really expect him to disappoint me here. And he didn't. There is something incredibly adorable about the way he looks and acts, and although it can't be said that his roles vary all that much between performances, he always makes me smile. Paul Blart is one of life's bumblers and it seems that nothing will ever change that. However, Kevin James manages to get the audience behind him, or me at least, and it is this that carries the whole film. Of course, if you don't like him, then this is likely to make the film more than a little tedious. However, he is so likeable that I think the majority of people will find him entertaning.
Every other role in the film could have been taken on by more or less any actor in the right demographic. Keir O'Donnell is good as the leader of the gang of criminals, changing personality very convincingly during the course of the film. I am just not convinced that somebody else couldn't have done it just as well. Jayma Mays is cute as Amy, but she doesn't really have enough to do other than look pretty and try to repel Paul's attention. Raini Rodriguez is good as Paul's daughter, but she isn't given enough of a storyline - I would have liked to have seen more of her really. Her on-screen relationship with Kevin James is sweet to watch - perhaps an actress to watch out for.
The story is ludicrous and you could pick all sorts of holes in it. However, if you watch a comedy set in a shopping mall expecting it to be realistic, then there's probably something wrong with you. Much of the story revolves around Paul falling over and generally making a complete idiot of himself. Kevin James does this really well, and I did find myself laughing out loud many a time. Of course, if you don't like slapstick, then this won't be your cup of tea. Best of all, in my eyes, is that the comedy is very gentle - there is no sex or toilet humour, just good clean fun, which makes it perfect for family viewing. I watch a lot of films with my friend's ten year old daughter, and so often there are awkward questions to answer, even with seemingly harmless films - there is nothing of that sort here. There is some mild violence, but nothing that could really upset or offend.
The script, co-written by Kevin James, is not the best I've ever heard. I don't think I ever really laughed because of what was said; it was always the slapstick action that amused me. Perhaps a little more attention to detail would have made the film even funnier than it was. However, it didn't really make all that much difference to my enjoyment of the film, so this is just a minor criticism. Should there be a sequel though, I think the writers will need to concentrate on a snappier script - the slapstick humour was funny this time around, but I don't think it could support a second film. There's a reasonable soundtrack, which I enjoyed - there is some Bon Jovi, Kiss, Survivor and ELO. It is rather eighties though, so it may not be appreciated by everyone.
I've read a lot of negative reviews about this film and it only has a score of 5.5 out of 10 on imdb.com. I am really not entirely sure why. Some of it seems to suggest that the film is cliched - well, yes, it is, but so are many comedies. Then there is a certain amount of controversy around the fact that the film Observe and Report, starring Seth Rogen, was released around the same time - this is also a film about a security guard in a shopping mall, although it sounds more serious to me. Although Paul Blart was released first, there seems to be some suggestion that the idea was copied from Observe and Report. Then again, I have also read that the producers of both films liaised regularly to ensure that the stories were not too similar. I don't know the truth behind the rumours and I don't really care - I really enjoyed this film, but I also like Seth Rogen and will certainly make an effort to see Observe and Report as soon as possible. Sometimes I think people just need to accept things the way they are and get on with it.
I watched the film in a cinema and therefore cannot review any extras on the DVD, which, in any case, is not released in the UK until 19 May.
I really enjoyed this film. It made me laugh and I found Kevin James to be as entertaining as ever. I would recommend watching the film and making your own mind up, rather than writing it off because of negative reviews. Of course, it isn't going to be for anyone, but it is harmless fun and I think most people will find something to enjoy. Recommended.
The DVD, when released, will cost £11.99 on Amazon. It is currently available for pre-ordering.
Advantages: Great comical movie, some fine stunts and many laughs throughout Disadvantages: none for me to complain about.
...things about, that movie being Paul Blart Mall Cop. Director: Steve Carr
Producers: Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Barry Bernardi
Writers: Kevin James and Nick Bakay
Stars: Kevin James, Jayma Mays, Keirs O’Donnell, Peter Gerety Bobby Cannavale and Adam Ferrara
Released in early 2009 and given a PG certificate '''** Brief plot…'''
Paul Blart _(Kevin James)_, who lives with his mother, _(Shirley Knight)_, and his daughter Maya, _(Raini Rodriguez)_, ... ...a shopping mall, which he has been for over a decade, mainly because he keeps failing to pass the entrance test to become a New Jersey state trooper due to him being hypoglycemia.
Life seems very mundane for Blart and his day job until ’Black Friday’, when a group of ‘thieves’, led by some one Blart knows, take over the Mall, snatching a handful of hostages on there way.
But when Blart realise that one of the hostages is Amy, _(Jayma Mays)_, who ...
blissman70 26.10.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Paul Blart - Mall Cop (DVD)
Advantages: Excellent casting, well scripted, great comedy moments, family friendly film Disadvantages: None for me
Paul Blart: Mall Cop is a film which I first went and saw at the cinema along with my wife, going along expecting a comedy which had nothing that would made us walk away with anything other than a quick laugh behind us and a film we would think nothing more of but after watching this I was taken in by the charm of the whole film and found that the film stuck in my head thanks in part to being well acted, a great story line, twists, romance, comedy ... ...Paul Blart (Kevin James who plays this to perfection) is a wannabe cop who has ended up working in the local mall as part of a security firm but he has taken his job to now being his personal crusade to ensure that all people in "his" mall have a great time and are kept safe.
All in Blart's mall is going well and when a gorgeous new shop assisstant opens up her own wig stand in the mall Blart is intrigued by her and feels that she maybe the one ...
tangoman1984 30.10.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Paul Blart - Mall Cop (DVD)
My 11 year old son and I went to see this at the cinema when it was first released. The main part of the film is about a mall cop who is very funny and has to save the mall from the thieves who are robbing the money from it. It also has little other stories going on in it as well. There are alot of very funny parts in this film and has a nice flowing story line. As soon as this was released on DVD we bought it so that we could watch it again and ...
Simms24 20.10.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Paul Blart - Mall Cop (DVD)
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Advantages: Easy to watch & enjoyable Disadvantages: Lighthearted subtle comedy may not suit everyones needs
This movie is a lighthearted comedy that i thoroughly enjoyed.
The film's main character is Kevin James who I had never heard of until I stumbled across a classic American tv show called 'King of Queens'. Following this I have watched 'Hitch' and 'I now pronounce you Chuck & Larry' both which stars the talented Kevin James.
The film is centered around a down to earth, single dad who is devoted to his family and thoroughly enjoys his job as a mallcop (James). His one dream is to be a cop but unfortunately he has failed on several occasions due to his chubby exterior. His dedication to his work is sometimes seen as annoying to his co-workers and he always seems to be at the heart of his co-workers jokes, which makes you love the character all the more.
Throw in the fact that he stumbles and makes a fool of himself in front ...
Advantages: very funny, great story and acting Disadvantages: Some may find it daft
PaulBlart dreams of becoming a full time State Trooper but he just cannot pass the fitness test. He suffers from diabetes which makes him pass out if he does not get enough sugar in his blood. As a compromise Paul works as a security guard in the local Mall and he is swore to protect the mall and its shoppers.
Paul has a daughter and lives with his Mom. His wife left him as soon as they were married as she only wanted her green card and so Paul is very lonely. His Mom and Daughter set about trying to find him a date but Paul is already ahead of them when he meets the new stall holder at the mall, Amy and instantly falls in love with her. Paul is not good with then ladies and so nothing happens with them.
Soon Paul is training a new security guard and uses this chance to impress Amy but things go from bad to worse for him when ...
Advantages: None Disadvantages: Anything that happened between the opening and closing credits
Synopsis
MallCop is about a security guard who has delusions of grandeur. He wants to join the state troopers, but fails the assault course because his hypoglycaemia makes him collapse.
Paul is a chucky, overweight guy, whose lack of a love life seems to be of more concern to his mother and daughter, than to Paul himself. Because he has his eyes on Amy, who?s recently set up a stall in the middle of the mall.
On Black Friday, which is the busiest year of the shopping calendar a gang of thieves, armed with a gun and skateboards enters the mall and take 6 people hostage, one of whom is Amy.
Paul is determined to protect the mall and save the hostages, and sets out on his bungling mission.
My Thoughts
The first thought that popped into my head when it finished was ?oh my good god? (well that?s the cleaned ...
Contains moderate comic violence and mild language
Video Category
Feature Film
Country Of Origin
United States of America
Plot
As a mall security guard, Paul Blart is devoted to keeping crime and mischief out of the New Jersey shopping center where he works, even if he isn't allowed to wear a gun. But Santa's helpers decide to be naughty, taking Paul's loved ones hostage, so he has to use all his training to save them. Kevin James (THE KING OF QUEENS, HITCH) brings the laughter--and the pain--as the titular law enforcer.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Languages
Main Language
English
Technical information
Sound
Dolby Digital
Professional reviews
Review
Paul Blart: Mall Cop is a slapstick comedy with a hero who is a nice guy. I thought that wasn't allowed anymore (Chicago Sun-Times, 26/01/2009)
DVD Description
Paul Blart (Kevin James – I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY) is a hard worker, but has never landed his dream job of being New Jersey state trooper due to his excess weight. Determined to support his mother and his daughter, Blart takes the slightly less glamorous post as the security guard at his local shopping mall. He never complains, approaching the job with impressive diligence and pride, but doesn't get much respect for it. It's only when a group of misfits in Santa's Helper disguises take hold of the mall and several hostages, that Blart's would-be cop smarts come in handy and he gets a chance to shine. With a deadly situation on hand, Blart may finally be able to show the world (and his romantic interest, who just happens to be one of the hostages) what he's made of. Though the villains have several advantages over him, Blart has a Segway scooter and a big heart on his side.
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