" I saw Mall Cop because My Bloody Valentine was sold out in theaters. I didn't expect much from a Happy Madison movie. But I was surprised how hard it made me laugh.

After Chuck and Larry, you'd think Kevin James would have stayed away from Happy Madison movies. But he was smart to make this one because it was the one out of there 10 or 15 movies that was actually funny.

In the beginning there's a lot of good laughs supplied by Kevin James. He's funny through-out but the movie gets a little overly goofy towards the end. Still, it's a fun comedy version of a Die Hard type movie. Kevin James should stay away from the Adam Sandler company though, he's funny enough not to need Sandler to get an acting job. I mean, he's not.... Rob Schneider. "

" Paul Blart is a secuirity guard in a mall located in New Jersey. He is a certified cop but he doesn't have the greatest physical side and is overweight. One day, a gang takes over the mall and captures hostages. Paul is trapped inside the building and is the only person that can communicate with the SWAT team who are outside and kept away from the mall because of explosives that are scattered around the perimeter.

Kevin James does some good comedic work here as he turns slapstick humor into interesting humor. There are also one or two jokes in the film that aren't sex-related, mean, or violent, but at the same time made me laugh out loud. Now that is very hard for a writer to pull off these days.

There is a major problem with this movie though. The script is only funny when Kevin James makes it funny. He doesn't have much to work with as the writers could have made the script a lot more clever. Also, American Film needs to stop using the embarresing and dull fat jokes. They're just annoying now.

Overall, Paul Blart: Mall Cop is fair. Most of the comedy is stupid and it is all stuff we have seen before. But if you're looking for a family comedy with only a few original laughs then go see this movie. One more thing, there are two twists in this movie. The first time it works. The second time it doesn't. It almost seemed like the movie was trying to make itself too dramatic."

"This movie is what you expect. Well almost. What you might not expect is this movie being funny with only a PG rating. Now Kevin James has a fan base due to “King of Queens” television show. He has been in a few movies, but never the star. This role is perfect for him. James plays a mall security officer at a New Jersey mall. His most powerful weapon is his segway. It is also his way of transportation. On Black Friday, a group of thieves take over his mall, and he is the only man who can stop them.

Now keep in mind this movie is PG, so it is clean and has a predictable story. Everyone knows how this will end. But the movie becomes clever in keeping the audience entertained and laughing. Some funny moments are slapstick, but not all of them. The way Paul Blart gets the bad guys and how he goes from a joke to a hero are the highlights of the movie. I think anyone who enjoys Kevin James will like this movie. This role really makes him shine. More importantly, his humor is funny and he does it without the use of f-bombs. It would have been easier to make this no holds barred and have an R rating. However, the filmmaker decided to make it a family movie without being too cheesy and having Kevin James really take hold of this movie. It really becomes his movie in the end. "

"At The Movies

Paul Blart: Mall Cop

Director: Steve Carr Stars: Kevin James, Jayma Mays Genre: Comedy Studio: Columbia Pictures Audience Suitability: G Rating: * * Running Time: 87 Minutes Release Date: Jan. 16, 2009

Misfire!

By ROBERT WALDMAN

Comedies need laughs to be successful. Good intentions can go by the wayside for any movie if the script lacks much substance. Despite a very amiable lead actor Paul Blart: Mall Cop comes across as not that funny. Perhaps Adam Sandler should stick to acting or hiring more effective writers as this comedy stumbles out of the gate and fails to “close” the deal largely due to a lack of funny moments. Sandler’s last effort, Don’t Mess with the Zohan, harkened back to his Happy Gilmore/Billy Madison days. And as a producer he gave us the zany Deuce Bigalo: Male Gigolo fiascos -all funny (or tasteless) in their own way, depending on your point of view. With Paul Blart: Mall Cop, you have what could have been an interesting character/scenario but a story that largely lacks enough punch in the laugh arena for typical Sandler fans. To be fair, though, some young teens were laughing at times during some of the funny bits, which I found too few and far between. Give your own verdict on this movie now showing at Tinseltown (on Pender, free parking), Empire Studio 12, Colossus and Famous Players Silver City cites around B.C.

Take nothing away from Kevin James (Hitch). The rotund star does his best in the title role, an overweight, largely unloved single dad who gets by as a security guard at a mall. Not known for his physical abilities we get to see this sad sack nerd try to succeed at police training, but naturally coming up empty. Similar lack of success occurs with the ladies as this poor sod seems to be going nowhere.

Fellow officers at the mall make light of Blart and efforts for him to “connect” with a comely stall operator also seem to be going nowhere. Even at home his mom and daughter take the man largely for granted, feeling sorry for his current state of inaction. Funny how certain events can change a person’s life and a robbery at the mall manages to spring this closet hero into action.

Sure, there are some funny moments as Blart does his best to deal with the bad guys and there are a few mild jolts of humour. Unfortunately, despite a good set up there really isn’t that much of a payoff in the humour area which is a shame since I’m sure all the actors did their best but the material given to them I feel let them down.

Kevin James is highly likeable and thoroughly enjoyable as a comic actor. Even in the romance area he can make people smile. Here he’s largely hamstrung by a script and story that really needed more humour or zaniness. Next time let’s hope better creative forces are unleashed to make the entertainment experience more bearable.

Read more reviews by Robert at www.moviereviewssite.com "