Paul Blart: Mall Cop is an easy comedy to ignore. It is one of those early in the year films that seems destined to be a mere place holder during these cold months. It seems to be one of those films that is released in the hopes of making a few bucks playing opposite expanding Oscar hopefuls. Yes, it is true the early releases of any given year are not among those expected to be competing at end of year awards show. Fortunately, the world of the movies is always ready to offer up a surprise or two, and this Happy Madison (Adam Sandler's company) production is a very pleasant surprise. Well, I know it caught me off-guard.
Kevin James stars as the titular Paul Blart, a sad, lonely, hypoglycemic would-be New Jersey State Trooper who is never able to make it to the finish line and achieve that goal. So, while he sadly sits with his mother and daughter (he is a single father), slathering his pie with peanut butter, he focuses on his second love, being a mall cop. Blart takes this job very seriously, even having a routine to get himself ready before hitting the food court. Despite his weight issues and problematic social skills, Paul Blart loves this job and puts his whole heart into it. I guess it does not hurt that he has little else going for him.
The movie is about much more than a heavy guy dreaming of being a real cop while playing security guard, it is about a man learning to believe in himself, digging deep inside and finding the confidence to become the person he wants to be. Certainly sounds weighty, doesn't it? It may have some modestly deep issues in the background that may encourage some new trains of thought, but it is not a deep movie. It is a movie that
is more content to induce smiles, chuckles, and a few laughs than it is willing to spark serious discussion about the way to find one's center. That, however, is not a bad thing.
There is something decidedly different about Paul Blart: Mall Cop, something that helps it stand out from other light comedies, something that is a refreshing change. What could that thing be? It is a sense that permeates the entire film. It is the fact that this is a genuinely nice comedy, it is a movie that is warm and welcoming and has its heart in the right place. Usually films of this ilk rely on innuendo, bodily fluid humor, and very often mean-spirited comedy. The lack of these things makes Paul Blart a breath of fresh air. Plus, Kevin James has a very likable on screen persona.
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