Observe and Report - Movie Review

Observe and Report is a film that came out at the apex of Judd Apatow and his crew's power hour in Hollywood. This movie was written and directed by an Apatow regular from behind the camera – Jody Hill. He wrote and directed several episodes of Eastbound and Down and directed The Foot the Fist Way, both of which are starring vehicles for Danny McBride who has a cameo in Observe and Report.



This movie stars Seth Rogen as Ronnie Barnhardt; a bi-polar, medicated, mall security guard. He is obsessed with honoring the ideals of truth and justice at just about any cost. Meanwhile, he’s trying to win the affections of whom he considers the prettiest girl in the mall – the dull-witted, and whole lot of little bit slutty Brandi, played by Anna Faris of Scary Movie infamy; even though the girl in the wheelchair working at the cookie stand, Nell (Collette Wolfe) hints to Ronnie that she likes him. Ronnie also enjoys harassing his self-labeled mall terrorist Saddamn, played by Aziz Ansari.


There is a flasher running around Ronnie’s mall, showing off his nasty bits and pieces to all the pretty ladies and Brandi becomes his latest victim, sending Ronnie and his misfit crew on a mission to bring down the elusive pervert. Also, there has been a string of robberies from stores in the mall, so now the police become involved on both cases, opening an investigation led by Detective Harrison played by Ray Liotta (Goodfellas), a no-nonsense detective who could really care less about the pervert and is more interested in the robberies. Through him Ronnie finds inspiration and tries to become a police officer while getting on Detective Harrison’s nerves and there is nothing better, more offensive – meaning funnier – than a pissed off Ray Liotta, which is what Detective Harrison is.


Observe and Report is comedy at its darkest. Ronnie Barnhardt is an intense character that is as violent as he is amusing. Some of the funnier moments happen when Ronnie is at home, nursing his alcoholic mother well-played by movie veteran Celia Weston. Chances are you’ve seen her in a movie or television show at some time, you just don’t know which one but it’ll come to you later.


Ronnie’s co-workers are funny as well; the gun-happy, heavyset Asian twins John Yuen and Matt Yuen, played by John Yuan and Matt Yuan. Yes, you read that correctly. Also helping Ronnie is the drug-loving, thrill-riding Dennis, played insanely by Michael Pena, another movie and television veteran. Trust me, you’ve seen him before. In Observe and Report, he delivers one of his most memorable performances and provides a hilarious, eye-opening moment in the middle of the film.


Seth Rogen once again plays the loveable loser, only now the loveable loser doesn’t see himself as a loser at all and might not be so loveable to all audiences because his love for justice is a passion so intense, blood will be shed. One moment best representing his convictions comes when Nell’s manager (Patton Oswalt) and her co-worker are making fun of her, forcing Nell to tears in front of Ronnie, forcing Ronnie to go OFF on both of them. Ronnie’s also not afraid to tase mall employees or trade racially facetious dialogue with Saddamn; which left me laughing long after the scene was over.


Observe and Report is not a movie that everyone will like or maybe even understand, but for those that enjoy the sadistic side of comedy this is a movie that might appeal to them. It did to me, and some of my friends might even say there’s a bit of Double Barrel in it. He’s a nice guy. I hope you all get to meet him some day.