1/2
Starts March 26
Columbia Pictures presents a family comedy starring Kevin James (King of Queens, Hitch), directed by Steve Carr, written by Nick Bakay and produced by – among others – Adam Sandler.
Paul Blart (James) has all the drive and ambition to become a member of the police force, but is rejected because he suffers from narcolepsy – sleeping disorder. Discounted but not discouraged, Blart becomes a security officer at a local mall, giving the job a seriousness and commitment few of his colleagues feel it deserves. Everything changes when a group of thugs take over the mall – hostages and all – aiming to access the bank codes of every store in the complex. At last, Paul Blart has the chance to show what he is really made of.
The storyline of Paul Blart: Mall Cop is as predictable as the title, so that the movie basically revolves around Kevin James' performance – though the younger audience will probably enjoy the acrobatic, skateboarding baddies. The saving grace is James' ability to imbue the character with an innocent charm that made me laugh despite myself. Even so, this is only a movie for a family outing on a rainy day with no alternatives.