I’m not one to turn up my nose at low brow comedy. I’m from
that generation that grew up idolizing the movie THE NUTTY PROFESSOR and I’m
talking about the Jerry Lewis version not Eddie Murphy. As a kid those kind of
movies made me laugh like there was no tomorrow no matter how pained they
seemed to make my folks. The shoe is now on the other foot and I’m seeing
movies that kids love that I barely find tolerable. PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2 is
just that kind of movie.
Don’t get me wrong I am a major fan of Kevin James. He’s
made some outrageously funny movies that I have held on to knowing that I can
pull them out for a laugh when the mood strikes me. While watching this one I
realized that I hadn’t seen the first movie, not that it made a difference. I
knew from the trailers I saw far too many times what happened. This one picks
up where that one left off.
Except that the romance in the air at the end of the last
film died out 6 days after Blart (James) married the love of his life, she
having had second thoughts. Shortly after that SPOILER something goes amiss
with his mother. That leaves Blart alone with his daughter Maya (Raini
Rodriguez). Both get great news on the same day. Paul has been invited to the
annual gathering of mall security cops in Las Vegas and Maya has been accepted
at UCLA. The problem is she didn’t tell her dad she even applied and he’s been
letting her know just how much he depends on her being near.
Off to Vegas they go and the jokes immediately begin with
Blart acting the pompous fool who thinks everyone is impressed with him as well
as his attempting to prove how intelligent he is with little to no effect. Once
settled in Maya catches the eye of a valet who works at their hotel while Paul
informs the hotel manager that she needn’t flirt with him because he’s not
interested. Of course neither is she since she’s seeing the head of security
for the hotel, a man who turns his nose up at Blart when any chance presents
itself.
While all of this is going on a high roller who lost big on
his last visit, Vincent Sofel (Neal McDonough), is staying in the Presidential
Suite and making a few plans. Those plans include stealing the famous art
collection there at the Wynn Hotel, a collection that includes a Van Gogh that
he dearly wants. All of this is payback for his last visit. As Vincent and his
crew make their plans the security convention carries on.
Of course things play out with Blart finding out about the
heist when his daughter is kidnapped. Unable to turn to the real police for
help, Blart sets out to find and rescue his daughter on his own. And as is
always the case, he does so while almost always by accident with his bumbling
ways leading to an eventual showdown between the good guys and the bad.
James has always had a knack for physical comedy and he puts
it on display here in full force. It are those moments that will have your kids
cackling like hyenas while you have a pained look on your face. At the same
time the touching and tender moments will be those you tolerate fairly well
while the kids wait for Blart to fall one more time or to walk into another
window. The back and forth between these two types of comedy make for a
schizophrenic movie at times and not one that will be enjoyed by most adults.
But the kids will love it.
As I said, I’ve
become a big fan of Kevin James. He does offer some humorous moments here but
not enough to carry off an entire film. I’m hoping that he turns around and
makes something far better than this next time. I don’t think I’ll be watching
this one again. Instead I’ll probably pull out ZOOKEEPER or HERE COMES THE BOOM
instead. But when my nieces and nephews come over and I need something to keep
them occupied then maybe this one will be placed once more into the DVD player.
Doubtful but there is always that chance.
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