Hey Folks, Harry here with another review from a reader that drove from Milwaukee to Chicago to see this screening of OBSERVE & REPORT! And what did he think of the event? Here ya go...
Capone, Harry, et al... I wanted to thank you guys personally for making this screening happen. This was my first AICN screening and I was floored by the experience. One of the best I've ever had in a theater. The crowd was great, the staff/security was really classy, and the movie blew my mind. It made the 5 hour drive from and back to Milwaukee totally worth it. I would do it again in a second. The friend I brought along felt the same. So once again, thank you. Since I saw the movie, I've been feeling the urge to write SOMETHING down about this movie, even if it's only for myself. I feel as though I've just seen a landmark of sorts for comedy on film, so here's my review. I've seen one from this screening posted already, but I thought it couldn't hurt to send mine in. REVIEW: To put it simply, "Observe and Report" may be the greatest film I've ever seen that I probably won't be recommending to anyone. I feel sorry for the unsuspecting public that will go see this for Seth Rogen, or God forbid because they enjoyed "Paul Blart: Mall Cop." If you've ever been seriously offended by anything in your life, please, please, please stay away from this movie. This is the most deranged studio comedy I've ever seen. "Observe and Report" has moments that rival Pink Flamingos-era John Waters. I cannot believe that this is getting a wide release or that it got an R-rating in this form. Please keep kids 20 miles away from all theaters showing this film. The worst thing I can say about the film is that it sort of ruins some of Seth Rogen's earlier work. In comparison, "Pineapple Express" is a wacky after-school special. "Zack and Miri" is a mildly dirty, but inoffensive joke. "Knocked Up" is a tame instructional video that could be played in any 6th grade sex ed class. Most of the film is really funny, but the absolutely insane final act puts this into the stratosphere. There are moments in the latter half "Observe and Report" that completely shocked me. It takes a lot to shock me. I gasped. I teared up and nearly choked from laughing so hard. Anybody that tries to spoil the surprises that the movie has in store is pure evil. If you do plan on seeing it, don't let yourself see ANY spoilers. Thankfully, literally everything in the theatrical trailers is in the first half of the film. I have a new found respect for writer/director Jody Hill. I was not at all impressed by "The Foot Fist Way," but he consistently confounded my expectations here in all the right ways. There was not one beat in the story that I accurately predicted. Seth Rogen plays gloriously against type here, and the rest of the cast is wonderful. Anna Faris is perfect. She proves that given good material, she can spin absolute gold. Ray Liotta doesn't get many laughs but he serves his purpose. Collette Wolfe is the standout here. Words cannot describe the perfection of her character's arc or the weight she lends to the role. There are also a few incredibe cameos that I won't spoil. I could go in depth with the story or the characters, but there's no point in ruining it all. I've touched upon how crazy the film is, but even more disturbing is how dark it is at its core. To say it has a black heart is to miss the point entirely. It has no heart. Nothing is off limits - just the way I prefer my comedy. The main character's actions stem from his decision to go off his meds for bipolar disorder. I have a feeling some activist groups are not going to like this. Some will say that the film handles the issue pretty carelessly. But this a movie that is not saying anything in particular. It just exists. It's not a commentary, only an experience. There are scenes that fall flat and it takes 15-20 minutes to gather a head of steam. But there are moments so iconic, so brazenly violent, so socially reprehensible that if you have even a slightly twisted or left-of-center sense of humor, there is SO MUCH to enjoy here. Seth Rogen has given us his finest performance yet and Jody Hill has emerged as a force to be reckoned with. The rest of the R-rated studio comedies coming out in 2009 have a lot to live up to. I'm looking at you Sacha and Judd. The bar has officially been raised. -Kid Idioteque
