July 14, 2015

Blu-Ray Review: PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2

Starring Kevin James, Neal McDonough, Raini Rodriguez, Daniella Alonso, D.B. Woodside, David Henrie, Shirley Knight. Directed by Andy Fickman. (2015, 94 min).
SONY

I don't get it. With The King of Queens, Kevin James proved he can be a funny guy with his likable, somewhat self-depreciating, working-class persona. So why has he settled for being a fat, dumb, punching bag in his movies? Sure, most of them have been box office successes, especially Paul Blart: Mall Cop, but hey Kevin...you're better than this.

Getting that off my chest, I have to say I wasn't exactly disappointed with Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, since I didn't expect it to be any good in the first place, for two reasons: 1) comedy sequels almost always suck; 2) the first film wasn't that great to begin with. This completely unnecessary sequel offers more of the same, this time plopping Blart and his teenage daughter, Maya, in Las Vegas for a security guard convention at the Wynn Hotel. Meanwhile, wealthy criminal mastermind Vincent Sofel (Neal McDonough, again wasted in a thankless role) is planning to rob the hotel of all its priceless paintings. After Maya catches onto the plan, she is kidnapped, forcing Blart to bumble and stumble to the rescue.

D.B. Woodside & Neal McDonough simultaneously decide to fire their agents.

Then it's business as usual. Once again, Blart spends the first two-thirds of the film embarrassing himself with pratfalls and overzealous dedication to his job. Once again, he's initially the object of ridicule to everyone he meets. Once again, a smoking-hot woman is inexplicably attracted to him (Daniella Alonso, who actually gives the best performance in the film). Once again, Blart goes from zero-to-John McClane within a single scene.

Speaking as someone still holding out for the ultimate Die Hard spoof, I found none of this to be the least bit funny, entertaining or original. Once more, Kevin James squanders his talent by trying to make the audience laugh at him, not with him (maybe he should try doing a movie without Adam Sandler's help). On the other hand, if you loved first film, there's no reason you won't enjoy this one.

EXTRAS:

  • FEATURETTES: "Action Adventure"; "Back in the Saddle"; "Le Reve"; "No Animals Were Harmed"; "Real Cops"; "Sales Tactics"; "Security Force: The Cast of Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2"; "How to Make a Movie" (most of these are less than 5 minutes long and should amuse those pining for more)
  • Gag Reel
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Photo Gallery
  • DVD & Digital Copies

KITTY CONSENSUS:
MEH...BUT IF YOU LOVED THE FIRST ONE...ENJOY

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