Whenever a comedic actor experiences a successful run at the box office, they often encounter a flop within the realm of dark comedy. Eddie Murphy’s unique approach of portraying multiple characters in Vampire in Brooklyn deterred audiences more than attracting them to theaters. Jim Carrey’s style of ‘90s humor did not resonate well with the eerie tone of The Cable Guy. However, Seth Rogen entered the scene with his ill-fated mall security role in Observe and Report.

Rogen was solidifying his status as a household name in 2009 when Jody Hill’s dark comedy was released following the Canadian star’s collaborations with Judd Apatow in Knocked Up, Superbad, and Pineapple Express. Many critics dismissed the film, likening it to a knock-off of Kevin James‘s Paul Blart: Mall Cop, which Rogen was aware of during production. Nevertheless, audiences were taken aback by the film’s dark comedy aspects, resulting in a 37% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes for Observe and Report. The film marketed as another Rogen farce ultimately delved into an uncomfortable tone reminiscent of Martin Scorsese’s The King of Comedy.

What Is ‘Observe and Report’ About?

Observe and Report centers on Ronnie Barnhardt (Rogen), the head of mall security at Forest Ridge Mall. Aspiring to join the local police force, Ronnie is fixated on apprehending a male flasher (Randy Gambill) who exposes himself to various female shoppers and store employees, including makeup counter worker Brandi (Anna Faris). Although Ronnie believes his actions are heroic, he suffers from bipolar disorder and harbors grandiose delusions about his role.

Ronnie’s attempts to catch the flasher are complicated by conflicts with Detective Harrison (Ray Liotta), who feels that Ronnie is intruding on his moment to shine. His ambitions to join the police force spiral into chaos through excessive force against mall employees and teenagers. Ultimately, Ronnie’s fantasy of being a cop begins to blur with troubling realities regarding his mental health and violent tendencies.

Seth Rogen’s Mall Cop Plays a Hero Masking Morbid Insecurity

Rogen’s characteristic laid-back stoner humor typically positions him as the relatable best friend in Apatow projects. However, in Observe and Report, Rogen’s comedic style is notably restrained, portraying a mall cop whose behavior is driven by a Charles Bronson-like fantasy stemming from his bipolar disorder. This portrayal marks a rare instance where Rogen embodies a character that repels rather than attracts, with humor primarily arising from Ronnie’s Dirty Harry-esque demeanor towards various mall characters, including the flirtatious Saddam (Aziz Ansari) and the harsh food court manager, Roger (Patton Oswalt). Even during the police psychological evaluation scene, where Ronnie graphically describes violent dreams about criminals, surface-level laughs mask the disturbing undertones of his mental state. Under Hill’s direction—who later created HBO’s Vice Principals and The Righteous Gemstones, both sharing similar grim absurdity—Observe and Report differentiates itself from mainstream comedy by presenting humor that is cringeworthy and awkward.

Rogen is joined by fellow Apatow collaborators Ansari and Danny McBride, along with Michael Peña, who plays Ronnie’s fellow mall cop. Additionally, Observe and Report features one of Jesse Plemons‘ earliest roles as a young security recruit mentored by Rogen’s character. Although not as pivotal as Plemons’ later roles, he participates in a chaotic finale mall brawl—a style reminiscent of the John Wick films—against Liotta and a group of corrupt cops, blending shocking violence with humor that enhances the film’s morbid absurdity.

‘Observe and Report’ Drew Controversy Over Date Rape Scene

The critical reception was polarized regarding how Observe and Report addresses Rogen’s character’s mental illness alongside excessive prescription drug use. Controversy heightened due to a subplot where Rogen’s Ronnie date rapes Brandi after consuming clonazepam, leaving her nearly unconscious. The film attempts to subvert typical love interest narratives found in action comedies—similar to how Rogen’s previous film,Pineapple Express, portrayed Amber Heard’s character—but this irony regarding Ronnie’s delusion with Brandi in such a vulnerable state was deemed excessive for the comedian.

Rogen defended this scene to ABC News by stating that Brandi’s line, “Did I tell you to stop, mother f*****?” while her eyes are closed adds humor to an otherwise troubling moment. However, between the film’s release and the emergence of the Me Too movement, it would have been prudent for the date rape scene in Observe and Report to be omitted without undermining its commentary on fragile egos navigating mundane jobs.

Observe and Report is available for rent or purchase on VOD services.

Here you can find the original article; the photos and images used in our article also come from this source. We are not their authors; they have been used solely for informational purposes with proper attribution to their original source.[/nospin]

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