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Movies / Upcoming / Observe and Report
Observe and Report

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Observe and Report (2009)

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Reviews Counted:181

Fresh:91

Rotten:90

Average Rating:5.4/10

Consensus: Though it has a mean streak, and does not cater to all tastes, Observe and Report has gut-busting laughs and a fully committed Seth Rogen in irresistible form.

Runtime: 1 hr 50 mins

Genre: Comedies

US Box Office: $23,993,605

Synopsis: At the Forest Ridge Mall, head of security Ronnie Barnhardt (SETH ROGEN) patrols his jurisdiction with an iron fist. The master of his domain, he combats skateboarders, shoplifters and the... At the Forest Ridge Mall, head of security Ronnie Barnhardt (SETH ROGEN) patrols his jurisdiction with an iron fist. The master of his domain, he combats skateboarders, shoplifters and the occasional unruly customer while dreaming of the day when he can swap his flashlight for a badge and a gun.

Ronnie's delusions of grandeur are put to the test when the mall is struck by a flasher. Driven by his personal duty to protect and serve the mall and its patrons, Ronnie seizes the opportunity to showcase his underappreciated law enforcement talents on a grand scale, hoping his solution of this crime will earn him a coveted spot at the police academy and the heart of his elusive dream girl Brandi (ANNA FARIS), the hot make-up counter clerk who won't give him the time of day.

But his single-minded pursuit of glory launches a turf war with the equally competitive Detective Harrison (RAY LIOTTA) of the Conway Police, and Ronnie is confronted with the challenge of not only catching the flasher, but getting him before the real cops.

Seth Rogen stars in the dark comedy Observe and Report, written and directed by Jody Hill (The Foot Fist Way). Donald De Line (The Italian Job) will produce, with Andrew Haas (Without a Paddle), Marty Ewing (Blades of Glory), Thomas Tull (The Dark Knight) and Jon Jashni (Sweet Home Alabama) serving as executive producers. The film also stars Anna Faris (The House Bunny), Michael Pena (Million Dollar Baby), Celia Weston (Junebug) and Ray Liotta (The Rat Pack).

The behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography Tim Orr (Snow Angels), production designer Chris Spellman (Superbad) and editor Zene Baker (The Foot Fist Way). Music is by Joseph Stephens.

Warner Bros. Pictures, in association with Legendary Pictures, presents a De Line Pictures Production, a Jody Hill Film, Observe and Report, . --© Warner Bros [More]

Starring: Seth Rogen, Ray Liotta, Michael Pena, Anna Faris

Starring: Seth Rogen, Ray Liotta, Michael Pena, Anna Faris, Celia Weston, Collette Wolfe

Director: Jody Hill

Director: Jody Hill
Screenwriter: Jody Hill
Producer: Donald De Line
Composer: Joseph Stephens
Studio: Warner Bros.

[See More Credits]

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    Red Band Trailer
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    Is There Really a Pervert Here?
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  • Are You OK, Brandi?
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    You Gonna Die
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1 - 4 of 9

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Reviews for Observe and Report

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >> >|
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A downright dumb film

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment 6 Comments
05/16/09
Louise Keller
Louise Keller
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
05/15/09
Urban Cinefile
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Much of the movie is just plain vicious. At best, it's sad and grotesque, rather than hilarious.

Full Review Source: Sydney Morning Herald | comment Comment
05/14/09
Paul Byrnes
Paul Byrnes
Sydney Morning Herald
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Ronnie’s corruption is not an easy journey to absorb, but Observe and Report is committed to the hellish descent all the way.

Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
05/14/09
Brian Orndorf
Brian Orndorf
Dark Horizons
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Offers a surprising journey if you're prepared to ride along with Ronnie, his security cart, and his attitude.

Full Review Source: Courier Mail (Australia) | comment Comment
05/13/09
Des Partridge
Des Partridge
Courier Mail (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Observe And Report is all pain and no gain. Avoid at all costs.

Full Review Source: FILMINK (Australia) | comment Comment
05/12/09
Pauline Adamek
Pauline Adamek
FILMINK (Australia)
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It's not consistently on-the-money, but Observe and Report's subversive humour should be applauded – even if it isn't as witty as it thinks it is.

Full Review Source: IGN Movies AU | comment Comment
05/11/09
Patrick Kolan
Patrick Kolan
IGN Movies AU
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Here's an observation--Jody Hill's bum comedy fails to live up to the potential of its two talented stars, Seth Rogen and Anna Farris. As for the story, here's the report. It's stupid.

Full Review Source: Bangor Daily News (Maine) | comment 3 Comments
09/27/09
Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith
Bangor Daily News (Maine)

If this were an audition reel and I was the head of a studio I'd call security to make sure this guy Seth Rogen and his writer-director Jody Hill never got near enough to my office to cast a shadow on it.

Full Review Source: Cinema Signals | comment 2 Comments
09/22/09
Jules Brenner
Jules Brenner
Cinema Signals

...gets increasingly bleak and ludicrous as it goes along, until it ends on a sentimental yet still rude and vulgar note. The movie is relentless.

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
09/16/09
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

As raunchy and as nihilistic as a two-minute punk song. It has its envelope-pushing rewards, at times .. but it tends to make its single-minded point over and over. After a short while, you begin to wonder: Is there anything on its mind? There isn't.

Full Review Source: Florida Times-Union | comment Comment
09/10/09
Matt Soergel
Matt Soergel
Florida Times-Union

Observe and reject

Full Review Source: CinePassion | comment 2 Comments
08/25/09
Fernando F. Croce
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion

You can cheer on "Paul Blart," something impossible in "Observe and Report," which is much darker. It does have some occasional funny moments, but they don't feel fresh

Full Review Source: Sean the Movie Guy | comment Comment
05/25/09
Sean McBride
Sean McBride
Sean the Movie Guy

The latest in a long line of mean spirited, snark filled, low down comedies that while it lasts gives stereotyping a good name.

Full Review Source: Windy City Times | comment Comment
05/15/09
Richard Knight
Richard Knight
Windy City Times

The hideous thing is that the film is modelling behaviour for young men who might still think it's all hilarious.

Full Review Source: MovieTime, ABC Radio National | comment 4 Comments
05/14/09
Julie Rigg
Julie Rigg
MovieTime, ABC Radio National
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Daily Telegraph | comment Comment
05/07/09
Daily Telegraph
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Writer-director Jody Hill attempts a difficult balancing act, so he can be forgiven for occasionally stumbling between laughter and squirms.

Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com | comment Comment
05/03/09
Dan Lybarger
Dan Lybarger
eFilmCritic.com

What is truly offensive is that a studio would say no to dozens of worthwhile projects and green light this garbage.

Full Review Source: Spectrum (St. George, Utah) | comment 3 Comments
05/01/09
Bruce Bennett
Bruce Bennett
Spectrum (St. George, Utah)

A funny version of Taxi Driver is a dubious proposition to begin with, and writer-director Jody Hill botches it from the start.

Full Review Source: Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL) | comment Comment
05/01/09
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

Does this film warrant one star for being so ugly, violent, misogynistic, sexist and racist — or five stars for being a daring and disturbing study of the violence, ugliness, sexism and racism of the ordinary American male?

Full Review Source: Sunday Times (UK) | comment 2 Comments
04/28/09
Cosmo Landesman
Cosmo Landesman
Sunday Times (UK)
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 >> >|
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Latest News for Observe and Report

September 21, 2009: RT on DVD: Observe and Report, Classic Star Trek, and more.
Coming out on home video this week are a few new releases from earlier this year (such as Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and Observe and Report), as well as a couple of collections... More...

April 12, 2009: Seth Rogen more shocking than funny as crude mall cop. Opens in new window
More...

April 09, 2009: Critics Consensus: Hannah Montana Hits A Flat Note
This week at the movies, we've got a pop songbird (Hannah Montana the Movie, starring Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus), a mall cop (Observe and Report, starring Seth Rogen and Anna... More...

April 09, 2009: Observe And Report: Better Than Blart, And Dirtier Than Harry. And the wicked humor never lets up, as the tone deliciously darkens just when it seems there's nowhere left to go. Opens in new window
More...

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