SNMR 6.23: "Paul Blart Mall Cop"

Tonight's SNMR feature is "Paul Blart Mall Cop (2009, PG, 91 minutes) starring Kevin James, Jayma Mays, Keir O'Donnell, Bobby Cannavale, Stephen Rannazzisi and Shirley Knight. The film was directed by Steve Carr.

PLOT SUMMARY: Paul Blart (James) keeps trying and failing the test to become a New Jersey State Police officer due to his hypoglycemia. So instead he is a security officer at a mall. A job he takes very seriously. Way too seriously. When the mall is taken over, on Black Friday, by thieves who are trying to steal the access codes to the stores credit card machines and thus steal all of the money brought in on the busiest shopping day of the year, it's up to Blart to outwit the bandits, save the day and get the girl.

MY OPINION: V, M and I saw this movie in the theater back in February and again last night on DVD. I must say it's a better movie than I thought it was going to be. Yeah, I realize the plot sounds corny, but that's only because it is. The main reason I wanted to see this movie in the theater and own it on DVD is because the mall that the movie was filmed in is the very same mall that is in the town I grew up in. I also watched one of the scenes being filmed (and actually was standing no more than 250 feet away from Kevin James in the crowd of non extras who were watching the proceedings) which was quite cool.

Is this the best movie I've ever seen? Certainly not. But it is what it is - a screwball comedy - and good fun, too. Steve Carr does a decent job directing and the cast is good - but not great. The most annoying thing for me about this movie is why did it have to be set in New Jersey? Couldn't they have found a nice mall actually in New Jersey to film in? Or couldn't the story have taken place in Massachusetts where the mall is actually located?

Anyway, this is a silly movie with a nice ending. Sure, go ahead and rent it or borrow it from your library.

*** out of *****