Observe and Report (2009)

Release date: 2009-04-10
Country: USA
Language: English
Director: Jody Hill
Production Co: De Line Pictures, Legendary Entertainment
Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Rating: 5.8/10
Length: 1h 26min

Storyline

Ronnie Barnhardt lives with his alcoholic mother. He's chief security guard at Forest Ridge Mall, where he's in love with Brandi, a cosmetic sales clerk, and gets a free coffee each day from Nell, a cheery clerk in the food court. A flasher haunts the mall's parking lot, and at night, thefts occur. Ronnie is intent on catching the criminals but has no investigative skills, is delusional about his abilities, and makes mad accusations. His bête noire is Detective Harrison, the city cop sent to investigate. Ronnie thinks he could be an officer, thinks he stands a chance with Brandi, and slowly loses his self control. Will reality set in? What about redemption?

Plot Keywords

mall, male full frontal nudity, motorcycle, public nudity, shopping mall, male nudity, black comedy, male pubic hair, pubic hair, police detective, security guard, machine gun, male rear nudity, medication, mexico, montage, mother son relationship, leg in a cast, knocked out, kiss

Short Review

More than once, writer-director Jody Hill teases out the slippy, gray area between a subversive gross-out gag and something unsettlingly misogynist. He wants to push buttons, and he's talented enough to get away with it.