18 Mar 2009

Paul Blart: Mall Cop

Director: Steve Carr

Starring: Kevin James, Jayma Mays, Keir O'Donnell, Bobby Cannavale, Stephen Rannazzisi, Shirley Knight

Release: 2009-03-18

Comedian Kevin James (King of Queens, Hitch) plays Paul Blart, a loser security guard at a loser shopping mall. He still lives with his mom, his wife ran off after she got her green card, and he can't seem to pass the test to be a state trooper.

So when the mall is taken over by robbers and the hostages include his daughter (Raini Rodriguez) and the girl of his dreams (Jayma Mays), Paul has one last chance to prove to himself and everyone else that he is indeed a Man.

Directed by Steve Carr, there are plenty of slapstick scenes where Paul falls and crashes into things, as fat comedians are often expected to do to generate laughs. But we've seen these all before, and it feels too easy and unimaginative.

Likeable as Kevin James may be, Paul Blart: Mall Cop is just another generic Hollywood yawn-medy.