Paul Blart: Mall Cop is an action, comedy with a touch of damsel-in-distress romance, starring Kevin James as Paul Blart. He’s a mall cop, who takes his job too seriously and his love life is on the rocks. The movie has all the feel-good elements of a typical Happy Madison production with old tunes, the game of love and plenty of laughs. However, Paul Blart: Mall Cop isn’t typical Adam Sandler territory, it functions like a Die Hard parody with a touch of Home Alone and Airheads. Kevin James brings a different energy to the role. He’s a big guy and does most of his stunts with relative ease, and this is where most of the comedy lies - in the action. He’s supported by Jayma Mays, Adhir Kalyan, Keir O’Donnell, Allen Covert and Bobby Cannavale.
Paul Blart starts off quite slowly as the story gathers momentum… The film picks up after Blart’s job, family and love life are established. There’s a real ’90s feel to this movie, which doesn’t take itself too seriously. The writing is okay, and James puts his weight into it. However, it doesn’t have the same quality as other Happy Madison productions. The laughs are mainly a result of James’s physical abilities, which masks Wayne Knight’s speed and agility in Seinfeld. Blart’s the inside man with a plan. His hypoglycemia and insecurities are sidelined as a gang of hi-tech, extreme sports terrorists create a hostage scenario. Amy (Jayma Mays), Blart’s mall sweetheart and his daughter (Raini Rodriguez) are put on the line and he’s forced to take his security guard training to the next level. The whole setup is familiar and predictable, yet James makes it entertaining. One cannot deny his all-or-nothing enthusiasm and spectacular “athleticism”.
Paul Blart: Mall Cop is a fun jaunt, but doesn’t really connect with reality. Just like Macaulay Culkin was able to outsmart his assailants in Home Alone, Kevin James manages to outwit the gang with his “nothing” training. The action has a fun edge, which keeps Paul Blart within the confines of family comedy. The movie also mimics the situational comedy of Airheads, which actually stars Sandler as a drummer in a hostage comedy stand-off. The overriding theme is that of Die Hard with James doing most of his own stunts like Bruce Willis, and taking the bad guys down one-by-one. There are product placements, like the cheesy Dunkin’ Donuts comment. The movie is heavily influenced by these competing factors, but doesn’t yield the sum total of its parts. There’s an awkward feeling that permeates the opening half hour, which makes one think Paul Blart: Mall Cop is heading down Nacho Libre/Napoleon Dynamite avenue. The end result is a feel-good movie that needs a funnier script and more charisma.
The bottom line: Fun.
