East Carolinian

Issue date: 4/14/09 Section: Features

Media Credit: staff photo

Over the years, Seth Rogen has become a household name, winning audiences over with his irresistible off-beat charm and humor. However, Rogen takes on a completely new persona in the new comedy, "Observe and Report."

Rogen plays Ronnie Barnhardt, Forest Ridge Mall's head security officer. When a flasher, otherwise known as the "Pervert," harasses a couple of women in the mall parking lot, Ronnie realizes that he now has the opportunity to prove his worth to his co-workers and himself. His full-time mission becomes the apprehension of the Pervert.

Things get personal when Brandi (Anna Faris), a make-up counter clerk and the love of Ronnie's life, is flashed by the pervert and sent into a state of shock.

After that incident, Detective Harrison (Ray Liotta) cuts into Ronnie's pride parade and takes over the case.

Not too keen about his leadership role being taken, Ronnie enlists the help of his cavalry (his right-hand man, Charles; the newbie, Dennis; and the Yuen twins) to help bring down the perp.

Secretly, Ronnie has always wanted to be a cop, and by "leading" the Pervert investigation, Ronnie is reminded of that dream.

He doesn't have much of a support system from inside the force, since Detective Harrison isn't the biggest fan of Ronnie's untraditional methods.

His main support is his mother (Celia Weston), a raging alcoholic and wannabe mom, who, in between passing out, encourages him to pursue a relationship with Brandi and be the best that he can be.

Ronnie, supposedly delusional and bipolar, can't be deterred from his dreams and is on a mission to join the police academy and solve the most important case of his life.

This is director and writer Jody Hill's second film, and she wrote the role of Ronnie Barnhardt specifically for Rogen.

Rogen creates a protagonist that the audience can somewhat root for. Although Ronnie seems like a work-obsessed security guard, he really is just a guy looking for love and success in a harsh world.

Though at times the humor falls short, there are a few moments when it's really hard not to laugh or even wince with distaste. The film is worth those moments.

At first glance, "Observe and Report" looks like a "Paul Blart" knock off, but with Rogen and Faris leading the cast, this film definitely stands on its own.



This writer can be contacted at features@theeastcarolinian.com

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