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Movies / On DVD / Paul Blart: Mall Cop
Paul Blart: Mall Cop

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Paul Blart: Mall Cop (2009)

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Reviews Counted:105

Fresh:36

Rotten:69

Average Rating:4.6/10

Consensus: Paul Blart: Mall Cop has some laughs, but its plot is flimsy and lacking in any sustained comic momentum.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for some violence, mild crude and suggestive humor, and language.

Runtime: 1 hr 31 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:20-03-2009

Synopsis: : Coming off the finale of television's popular sitcom THE KING OF QUEENS and 2007's I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY, funnyman Kevin James takes the role of a single dad in this largely... : Coming off the finale of television's popular sitcom THE KING OF QUEENS and 2007's I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY, funnyman Kevin James takes the role of a single dad in this largely physical comedy, which the actor also co-wrote. Paul Blart (James) is a hard worker, but has never landed his dream job of being New Jersey state trooper due to his excess weight. Determined to support his mother and his daughter, Blart takes the slightly less glamorous post as the security guard at his local shopping mall. He never complains, approaching the job with impressive diligence and pride, but doesn't get much respect for it. It's only when a group of misfits in Santa's Helper disguises take hold of the mall and several hostages that Blart's would-be cop smarts come in handy and he gets a chance to shine. With a deadly situation on hand, Blart may finally be able to show the world (and his romantic interest, who just happens to be one of the hostages) what he's made of. Though the villains have several advantages over him, Blart has a Segway scooter and a big heart on his side. While many of its jokes come at the expense of James's extra pounds, the film ultimately makes its star out to be a hero. With his everyman appeal, James is well-suited to play Blart, showing that even average Joes can make a difference with the right attitude. PAUL BLART: MALL COP takes the banal out of the shopping mall, infusing a familiar setting with energy, laughs, and high-stakes drama. [More]

Starring: Kevin James, Jayma Mays, Keir O'Donnell, Bobby Cannavale

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

Director: Steve Carr

Director: Steve Carr
Screenwriter: Kevin James, Nick Bakay
Producer: Adam Sandler, Jack Giarraputo, Todd Garner, Kevin James, Barry Bernardi
Composer: Waddy Wachtel
Studio: Columbia Pictures

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for Paul Blart: Mall Cop

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1 - 20 (sorted by rotten rating; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
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Just as James struggles to make unfunny material tolerable, so too does the supporting cast fall flat.

Full Review Source: Screen International | comment Comment
01/16/09
Tim Grierson
Tim Grierson
Screen International

Men of a certain size will love Paul Blart - and his pursuit through the centre is remarkably inventive. Truly for all the family.

Full Review Source: Teletext | comment Comment
03/19/09
Victor Olliver
Victor Olliver
Teletext
N/R

I suppose the food equivalent would be that nacho cheese that comes in a can with little chunks of jalapeño mixed in.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
01/16/09
Peter Hartlaub
Peter Hartlaub
San Francisco Chronicle

"I just love this guy," James says of Paul Blart in the movie's production notes. For the sake of humanity I hope and pray that barely anyone else shares his affection.

Full Review Source: Watertown Daily Times | comment 7 Comments
01/16/09
Adam Tobias
Adam Tobias
Watertown Daily Times

mostly this film spins its wheels not unlike the way that Paul spins the wheels of his mall-issued Segway%u2122.

Full Review Source: Killer Movie Reviews | comment Comment
01/15/09
Andrea Chase
Andrea Chase
Killer Movie Reviews

To call this Kevin James comedy fatuous might be misinterpreted as an attack on the star's girth -- so how about inane, tepid, lazy, puerile, phony, and unfunny?

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
01/16/09
Andrea Gronvall
Andrea Gronvall
Chicago Reader

There's no doubt that James is a fine comedic actor and the role of Paul Blart fits his big frame like a well worn glove. As writers, however, he and Bakay rely too heavily on slapstick...

Full Review Source: FILMINK (Australia) | comment Comment
03/20/09
Andrew J. McGlinn
Andrew J. McGlinn
FILMINK (Australia)

Once you’ve seen about the first 20 minutes of the movie, you’ve got a sense of what all of the jokes were going to be.

Full Review Source: At the Movies | comment Comment
01/20/09
Ben Mankiewicz
Ben Mankiewicz
At the Movies

unfathomably unfunny... centered around mean-spirited fat jokes

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
01/15/09
Bill Gibron
Bill Gibron
Filmcritic.com

Give this to Paul Blart: Mall Cop: It delivers on everything it promises. Which is to say, nearly nothing.

Full Review Source: Arizona Republic | comment Comment
01/15/09
Bill Goodykoontz
Bill Goodykoontz
Arizona Republic

The film's drawback seems to be (Kevin) James' indecision on a tone as well as how to present Blart.

Full Review Source: Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN) | comment Comment
01/17/09
Bob Bloom
Bob Bloom
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)

Who could have imagined that, mere days into 2009, we'd already have a formidable contender for the worst film of the year!?

Full Review Source: Colorado Springs Gazette | comment 2 Comments
01/16/09
Brandon Fibbs
Brandon Fibbs
Colorado Springs Gazette

Like a mall, has long stretches where you see nothing of interest and a generally stale air to it. Unlike a mall, you can't just browse and then move on to a better section.

Full Review Source: Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada) | comment 4 Comments
01/22/09
Brian Gibson
Brian Gibson
Vue Weekly (Edmonton, Canada)

An almost shockingly amateurish one-note-joke comedy on which the star also shares writing and producing credit.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
01/14/09
Brian Lowry
Brian Lowry
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

What's most disappointing here is that Kevin James appears capable of far more rich and subtle comedy than he's ever likely to be part of in a Happy Madison production.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
05/07/09
Brian Webster
Brian Webster
Apollo Guide

The film is completely forgettable, frequently funny and weirdly satisfying in a Jersey Loser Gets Respect kind of way.

Full Review Source: Philadelphia Inquirer | comment Comment
01/15/09
Carrie Rickey
Carrie Rickey
Philadelphia Inquirer

You might chuckle occasionally as the film drones on to a close, but mostly you'll be wondering when it will all end.

Full Review Source: Baltimore Sun | comment Comment
01/16/09
Chris Kaltenbach
Chris Kaltenbach
Baltimore Sun

Mall cops everywhere should sue. The movie is trash.

Full Review Source: Bangor Daily News (Maine) | comment 9 Comments
01/16/09
Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith
Bangor Daily News (Maine)

[James] plays yet another misfit, but one who's so two-dimensional, needy (and frankly annoying) that it's difficult to root for him.

Full Review Source: Associated Press | comment Comment
01/14/09
Christy Lemire
Christy Lemire
Associated Press

The last name Blart may be the funniest thing in the movie, so that's a hint as to just how bad this shopping-center saga can be.

Full Review Source: USA Today | comment 7 Comments
01/16/09
Claudia Puig
Claudia Puig
USA Today
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by rotten rating; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Paul Blart: Mall Cop

May 21, 2009: A babysitter's delight! Opens in new window
More...

May 18, 2009: RT on DVD: Paul Blart and Valkyrie Storm Store Shelves
This week we ask if a certain January box office hit about a portly security guard in a shopping mall will continue its reign of success on home video (Paul Blart: Mall Cop),... More...

February 02, 2009: Hollywood's Biggest January Ever Opens in new window
Thanks in part to "Paul Blart: Mall Cop," last month provided Hollywood with its first billion-dollar January. More...

January 25, 2009: Box Office Wrapup: Paul Blart Triumphs Again
THIS WEEKEND Sony became the first studio in over a year to seize control of the top two spots at the box office as its Kevin James comedy Paul Blart: Mall Cop remained at... More...

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