Here at Magick Sandwich, we watch crap so you don't have to.
That's one of the best sight gags in the movie, so if you're not a connoisseur of the chubster pratfall, you should spare yourself the expense of renting it.My first warning was the description on the Netflix sleeve. I expected it to be positive. After all, this was coming from the company renting me the film. Netflix called it a "laffer." When the best term to describe a comedy isn't even a real word, you know you're in trouble.
You might wonder why I rented this movie at all. I enjoyed The King of Queens. (Don't judge.) Kevin James does good bumbling fat boy physical comedy. His comic timing is pretty good. I know I'm not going to blow soda out of my nose at any of the jokes but I may chuckle a time or two. That's all I ask of this type of movie.
Why? First, because I never thought the original Panther movies were funny. Second, because I believe Steve Martin is a comic genius. I was an original member of the Wild & Crazy Guy Fan Club. I have been a fan of Steve Martin since I was fourteen and saved my baby-sitting money to go see him do stand-up at the 1979 New York State Fair.
He's cat juggling. Can't you tell? Steve Martin still has the capacity to break my heart. I die a little inside every time he wastes himself on terrible material. The same gags that give me a laugh in another cheesy flick will only cause me pain when performed by Mr. Martin. He is a master of physical comedy and I love him for it. But when that's all there is, it's like watching a prostitute. I can't believe he is enjoying the act.
So until Steve Martin makes a funny movie again, there is Paul Blart: Mall Cop.
But wait! There's more!
Slumdog Millionaire is not a comedy and is thus outside my purview, but its multiple Oscars don't lie. Danny Boyle has turned Mumbai slum life into a popcorn flick: quite an achievement.
But I would recommend Rohinton Mistry's book, A Fine Balance, in its stead. The beauty of his prose in the teeth of grim reality makes Slumdog look one-dimensional in comparison. You may not share my low-brow comedy tolerance, but you can trust my advice on this.
9 Comments; Click here to comment.:
Actually I may be one of the few folks who watched Hitch and thought it was funny. Wow. I wouldn't have even rented Paul Blart: Mall Cop from Netflix. Kudos to you for giving it a try.
With you on Steve Martin, loved The Jerk, but since, meh. ;)
@unfinished: I thought Hitch was funny, too. Not great but some good chuckles.
I'll always give a comedy a try if it might have even a couple decent laughs. I expected nothing from Blart. Unfortunately, it delivered.
From Steve Martin, loved The Jerk, Bowfinger, his books and his play. He's the only actor besides Bill Macy who makes Daivd Mamet's dialogue sound natural--in The Spanish Prisoner. But everything else, meh.
Too late. I've been Blarted. What a waste.
I watched Paul Blart on an airplane. I hadn't watched a movie on a plane in a long time and had hoped they'd gotten better. Airplane movies are the mediocre dumpster lining of the movie industry.
I did giggle in the scene you pictured.
My daughter dragged me to the first Pink Panther and I expected to be bored [even though I LOVE Steve Martin] but I laughed until I cried then we bought the DVD when it came out. Kids force you to see movies you'd otherwise NEVER go to and sometimes you get lucky.
@Douglas: I feel better that you gave it a chance, too. I wasn't the only one mining an empty vein for laughs.
@Silly: I still wonder if I thought Shrek 2 was so freaking hilarious because I watched it on a plane. On the other hand, seeing How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days was the in-flight equivalent of waterboarding.
That scene in Blart where Kevin James got dragged was a little funny, though. It suckered me into thinking there might be some more good stuff further in. There wasn't, of course, althoughKevin James was pretty impressive on the Segway.
@Pamela: Maybe I will give the Pink Panther movies a try. If they make me cringe, though, I will hold you personally responsible. (Not really. I just watched Paul Blart: I can't really claim the high ground here.)
The Pink Panther movies were genius, and Peter Sellers was one of the funniest humans ever. That's why I won't watch the remakes.
I, too, like King of Queens. Kevin James was a huge disappointment in Hitch with Will Smith.
I have no intentions of watching this mall cop movie, though.
Took the kids to see Paul Blart and we were all unimpressed. The funniest stuff had been given away in the previews.
And don't even bother with the other Mall Cop movie starring Seth "I'm Challenging Will Ferrell to a Worst Comic Actor of All Time Contest" Rogen. Take out the F-bombs and it would be a 20-minute movie.
@John J Savo: I just didn't get the genius of the P. Panther movies and Peter Sellers. I realize that is my failing, not theirs, since I appear to be in the minority.
King of Queens was a fun show. I think Kevin James is best on the small screen.
@Chris: I'm so bummed you didn't like Observe and Report. I'll probably watch it anyway on DVD. I loved Rogen in Pineapple Express. ( I also liked Will Ferrell in Step Brothers and *gulp* Blades of Glory.)
But I think Danny McBride is funnier than either of them. See East Bound and Down (HBO) if you haven't already. He's the quintessential "dickhead that you'll root for anyway".
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