I find my biggest difficulty in reviewing movies is that I have a hard time coming to an immediate and fully formed opinion of something. Most films, especially great ones, take time to fully grasp. When I saw There Will Be Blood, I did not review it because I didn't know what to make of it yet. I now think it is among the greatest films of the decade. I find myself at a loss for where to begin on my Adventureland review, a film I just saw and absolutely loved. So it is with luck that I am able to examine Observe and Report with a bit of distance, having seen in a while back and let it sit with me for a few months. Had I reviewed it at the time, I know I would have focused too much on a few problems it had at the expense of some really great stuff. By no means a great movie overall, it is one that deserves a fair bit of credit for being something you don't see a lot of in mainstream films today: ballsy.Now, there are two kinds of risky movies: those that make you say "I can't believe they just did that," and those that you actually can't believe they just did that. An example of the first kind is There's Something About Mary, which pokes you with a stick to get a response. Observe and Report is an example of the second, a film which breaks the stick in half and beats you with it. Both have their place, and this film is certainly not for everybody. That said, there is a cathartic feeling to be had when witnessing something that is, at times, wonderfully transgressive.
The film follows Ronnie (Seth Rogen) as he patrols his local mall in search of a flasher run amok. But Ronnie is a man with serious mental issues, more akin to Travis Bickle than Paul Blart. He pines for oblivious makeup saleswoman Brandi (Anna Faris), gets into feuds with a local Indian vendor (Aziz Ansari), and antagonizes detective Harrison (Ray Liotta). It's a film not as much about plot as it is about tone, and the tone can be downright unpleasant. Director Jody Hill made a name for himself with The Foot Fist Way and the recent HBO comedy Eastbound and Down, and he is known for examining unsympathetic characters in funny ways. Here he does it again, and either you can accept it or you will hate the whole movie.
For me, I found it pretty easy to accept such an unbalanced protagonist. I had a harder time accepting Seth Rogen as that character. I am all for actors playing against type, but Rogen is perhaps a bit too likable as Ronnie. It's the only part of the movie where I felt they were trying to tone down the viciousness of the comedy by having someone a bit safe play the part, as opposed to using someone like Danny McBride, who seems like he was meant to play the part and would have done it absolute, unflinching justice. But then, perhaps that would have been beyond the pale for most audiences. Rogen does have a vulnerable side to him that works especially well in the scenes with his mother, so it is a bit of a trade off.
People might expect Anna Faris to be a standout, but she is relatively minor in the film and often a bit grating (albeit intentionally so). The real supporting standout is Michael Pena of Crash fame. Who knew he had this in him? His character is hilarious but initially extremely ancillary. It is a pleasant turn of events when he suddenly comes to the forefront and steals the film from everyone else. He turns out to be just as screwed up as the rest of the cast, but in such a fun way he almost seems to be from another movie. His final scene in the film is one of the most memorable, as well as a wonderful visual experience. I could see Pena becoming something akin to John C Reilly, a man known for his brooding turns in dramas that finds his real calling in comedy. Let's hope so, because he really is wonderful here.
I keep saying this film finds comedy in breaking conventions, but I fear that by saying that I have already taken away a bit of the film's power. You don't expect this film to go the places it does. Ultimately, I need to explain what it is about this film that makes it stand out, and that transgressive comedy is what makes it unique. It can be uneven at times, but when it works, it really works. I usually don't say people absolutely need to see a movie I only give 3 stars to, but this is a film that demands to be grappled with, flaws and all. You will definitely want to talk about it after. I've had about 6 months to think on the film, and I can't shake the fact that Observe and Report has perhaps the funniest, most unexpected moment I have ever see in a film. I do not say this lightly. In fact, that's a statement I don't think I've ever said before. But there it is: I laughed for so long after one scene in this movie that the film was over before I completely regained my composure. And what's so wonderful about it is that I know that for every person laughing hysterically, there will be another shaking their head is shock as they head for the exit.
