Directed by Jody Hill (the promising, but not entirely great, “The Foot Fist Way”), “Observe & Report” promises to be the filthier version of “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” judging by that last R-Rated trailer which was surprisingly good. The film stars Seth Rogen, Anna Faris, Michael Peña, Ray Liotta and Jesse Plemons. Here’s the synop:
At the Forest Ridge Mall, head of security Ronnie Barnhardt (Seth Rogen) patrols his jurisdiction with an iron fist. The master of his domain, he combats skateboarders, shoplifters and the occasional unruly customer while dreaming of the day when he can swap his flashlight for a badge and a gun.
Ronnie’s delusions of grandeur are put to the test when the mall is struck by a flasher. Driven by his personal duty to protect and serve the mall and its patrons, Ronnie seizes the opportunity to showcase his underappreciated law enforcement talents on a grand scale, hoping his solution of this crime will earn him a coveted spot at the police academy and the heart of his elusive dream girl Brandi (Anna Faris), the hot make-up counter clerk who won’t give him the time of day.
But his single-minded pursuit of glory launches a turf war with the equally competitive Detective Harrison (Ray Liotta) of the Conway Police, and Ronnie is confronted with the challenge of not only catching the flasher, but getting him before the real cops.
“Observe & Report” hits theaters April 10 and debuts at the ’09 SXSW Film Festival. [ScreenRider]
I’ve actually heard this compared to Taxi Driver (with laughs, obviously). Apparently it’s a lot darker than the marketing suggests.