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Observe and Report (2009)

Director: Jody Hill

Time Out rating

Average user rating

13 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

If genuine originality is a rare commodity in movies these days, in Hollywood comedy it’s damn near extinct: however likeable the Judd Apatow-induced slew of bro-coms we’re currently experiencing, they’re still playing on age-old themes of romantic disenchantment, sexual frustration and male insecurity. ‘Observe and Report’ covers those themes too – but only in addition to its main interests in mental derangement, drug addiction and good old homegrown American fascism.

The film has been likened to ‘Taxi Driver’. It’s a reasonable comparison, though ‘King of Comedy’ might be more appropriate. Seth Rogen has never been better, or more unsettling, as mall security head Ronnie Barnhardt, whose increasing moral torpor and self loathing are constantly threatening to blossom into outright psychosis.

It could be argued that ‘Observe and Report’ sets a worrying precedent for mainstream comedy. With scenes of date rape, drug taking and violence against children and police officers, this is grim and often shocking: writer-director Jody Hill sketches characters with insight but without an ounce of sympathy. Taken as comedy the film is effective but uneven, relying on discomfort rather than smart jokes.

But take it seriously, and it pays off. For Hill, the real threat to America isn’t terrorists or politicians, it’s those ordinary jumped-up fascist thugs – cops, managers, security guards – who have just enough power to want more. Bracing, bleak and berserk, this is a film which laughs in the face of American intolerance, and comes up punch-drunk and grinning.

Author: Tom Huddleston

Time Out London Issue 2018, April 23-29, 2009

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User reviews of this film

critique said...

Posted on Mar 18 2010 15:17 I`m a bit out of synch with most of the reviewers of this film in that I`m not a Seth Rogen fan and I didn`t enjoy Knocked Up or Pineapple Express. I agree with Paul that the sex scene between Barnhardt and the cosmetics girl was clearly NOT "date rape" and I disagree with Johnny Rico in that I loved the slo-mo running flasher scene. Great stuff.

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Paul H said...

Posted on Aug 06 2009 07:39 Normally love Seth Rogen's films but this one was utter crap. Yes there are some bizarre and even funny scenes but the majority of the movie was just sheer crap and senseless dribble. But at least it pushed some boundaries.

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Peter said...

Posted on Aug 03 2009 20:23 Incredibly funny film if you arent a useless tool.

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Paul said...

Posted on Aug 03 2009 18:50 First off, will you stop saying it's date rape? The whole point of that scene is to shock the viewer by bringing them into it mid-act thinking he's taking advantage of the situation, but in spite of the massive amount of booze/meds, she keeps going because she's fucked up. If you can step outside your little bubble of delicate sensibilities and recognize that there is a lot of subtle but extremely well delivered humor you'll definitely enjoy this movie.
This is the first film where I've laughed my ass off to the point of tears during the film, and thought "wow, this was genius" at the end. Awkward social interaction reflects real life to the extreme, in a Michael Scott-like performance in some parts of the film. I'm just simply amazed how many worthless critics seem to be skimming through films, taking a glance on the surface, without even being able to correctly explain the events in their proper context.
It's over the top in areas where you least expect it, and nearly every character shows their dynamics at the best possible times from ray liota going from calm to completely snapping, to Michael Pena's character going on a mad crime and drug binge.
I really didn't even want to turn this comment into a full review, but I'll just say that this was an excellent movie and is far deeper and more interesting than anything else that's come out in a long while, and it actually delivers on comedy unlike the absolutely worthless indie films starring comedic actors like Juno. This is the Anti-Juno, and it's fucking brilliant.

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Tony said...

Posted on May 05 2009 20:49 Oh dear.... what a poor movie , sesh rogan is usually fantastic and funny especially in knocked up however what is all this about?? it has no humour like others and frankly is a terrible terrible film please listen to the reviews and dont waste your money , as for the timeout reviewer you slate good films and applaud pure shit ones. sorry but this was shocking.

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Roy said...

Posted on May 04 2009 07:54 There's a problem with being a film reviewer, you lose your ability to just watch and enjoy a movie, as a result you see a lot of formulaic predicatable films and however good the individual film is because it holds no suprises for you, it tends to pick up an mediocre or evan a bad rating.
The converse is true in that any film that suprises you picks up a better rating than t deserves and this is a case in point this film fails in almost everythign it sets out to do unless it's objectives where alienate the audience and lose money; however; it does have some itersting touches and a degree of originality about it, not enough to save it from it's woeful dialogue and lackluster pacing but coupled with some hardworking performances with bad material I can understand why a critic (who lets face it gets paid to see the film where the rest of us cough up hard earned cash) might find a few twists and suprises in there.
It's not the worst film ever made but there's betterthings out there to spend your money on unless oyu are truely jaded and cyncal with the world of cinma when this may provide some small entertainment value

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Johnny Rico said...

Posted on May 04 2009 02:22 Im usually a fan of gross out comedy but the date rape scene, slow motion male nudity and the drug taking was too much for me. If there were any smart jokes to at least justify all that nonsence it would have been bareable but no.
The only reason i didnt walk out halfway was beacause my mate was asleep in the cinema! I REALLY wished i missed that flasher running in slow motion that was so unnessasary.

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Tony said...

Posted on May 02 2009 19:46 I thought Seth Rogen put in a great performance in Pineapple Express and I was looking forward to see this film. But Boy, Oh Boy what a terrible film !!!!

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betty said...

Posted on May 02 2009 12:19 Had to leave halfway through, how could anyone willingly want to watch that film in their free time, whoever reviewed it as good, well i'd hate to see what they review as bad. possible the most boring piece of tripe ever.

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JA said...

Posted on May 01 2009 21:39 I've seen some poor flims in my time but this one rates as the worst ever! Absolute garbage!! Whoever rated it 4 stars needs to get a new job.

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thisfilmiscrap said...

Posted on May 01 2009 19:32 Read above.

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JT said...

Posted on Apr 27 2009 10:30 What film were you watching?!?
An unpleasant, unlikeable, unfunny and unnecessary film, with random violence and no good jokes.
Seth Rogen has a job on to make it back from this embarrassment!!

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ARCHGATE said...

Posted on Apr 26 2009 20:27 oops Tom. You sold me a pup on this one!
Woeful. Truly woeful.

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