Mall Cop
The media hasn't quite figured out how big a star Kevin James is, but the American public is in no doubt.
His sitcom The King of Queens has been a fixture at the top of the ratings for most of the last decade. His first movie vehicle was I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry with Adam Sandler. Most critics hated it, but it made $120 million in the US - a very good return for a comedy.
Cast details
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Kevin James
Born: 26 Apr 1965
Stony Brook, New YorkTop rated films View all King Of Queens - Series 4 (2001) 
King Of Queens - Series 2
You could attribute that success to Sandler, but not so with Paul Blart: Mall Cop, a PG –rated solo outing which has been at or near the top of the US box office charts since it debuted two months ago (gross to date: $133 million).
A stand up comedian before he turned actor, James is firmly in the tradition of Fatty Arbuckle, Oliver Hardy and John Candy. He’s a big guy whose size makes him sympathetic, an ordinary fella who's inevitably a bit of a loser.
Paul Blart likes to maximize his self-image. A security guard at a shopping mall, he carries himself with the pride of a federal agent or a homicide detective (despite repeated attempts to enlist in the police, he’s never made it past the physical). He manoeuvres his Segway (a kind of electric, freestanding scooter) as if it were a highway patrol car.
By any external indicator, Blart is not thriving. He lives at home with his mom (Shirley Knight) and his daughter – it seems his wife married him for US citizenship and then took off. His girls encourage him to try online dating agencies, but he’s actually got his eye on Amy (Jayma Mays), who operates a stall in mall atrium. His clumsy, hapless courtship of Amy tells us all we need to know about Paul. He may be a schlub, but he’s a nice schlub.
Mall Cop: Jayma Mays
If you’ve seen the trailer you’ll know that the movie turns into an extended comic riff on Die Hard. Thieves take over the mall at the end of a busy day’s trading, holding several people (including Amy) hostage, apparently indifferent to the cops who surround the building. But they haven’t reckoned on Blart holing up inside, playing havoc with their plans with his dumpy John McClane antics.
I hasten to add, if you’ve seen the trailer you’ve also seen all seven jokes. Directed by Steve Carr (Daddy Day Care) the movie is seriously deficient in the laughter department. Likeable enough, and not boring, but not nearly as funny as it might have been.
Reviews
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Critics' reviews
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Kevin James, last seen opposite Adam Sandler in the gay-for-pay trainwreck of I Now Pronounce You Chuck and... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
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18 out of 19 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Great
I know this film isnt actually out yet, but one of my friends at Sony got hsi hands on a preview, and i gotta say after watching it i was quite impressed. Despite being very predictable it offers a great evening for you and a group of friends, With some great laughs and some strange people, you should definetly rent this movie.
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14 out of 15 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
trailer
ive seen the trailer it looks good and funny
i am deffinetley reserving this film -
12 out of 12 people found this review helpful
Unexpectedly enjoyable!
Paul Blart is a joke. Nobody takes him seriously as he's a failure in everything he does in life.With a list of woes to him, Blart decides that when the mall he works at gets taken by thugs that he will do all he can to fight back and save the mall, the girl he's sweet on and his daughter. I have to say the trailer does not do justice to this movie, as the trailer looked downright boring, BUT the film was so much better. Very entertaining and light to watch.
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Most recent members' reviews (2)
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
brillant
this was fab film very funny in parts enjoyed it very much,worth the watch
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6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Boring
I went in to watch the movie with high expectations, but the film has sparingly hilarious moments in the middle of what is a largely dull and unentertaining movie.
If you do in fact rent it, you may at times want to step out to watch a 5 day game of cricket and come back to the movie.
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18 out of 19 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Great
I know this film isnt actually out yet, but one of my friends at Sony got hsi hands on a preview, and i gotta say after watching it i was quite impressed. Despite being very predictable it offers a great evening for you and a group of friends, With some great laughs and some strange people, you should definetly rent this movie.
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14 out of 15 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
trailer
ive seen the trailer it looks good and funny
i am deffinetley reserving this film -
12 out of 12 people found this review helpful
Unexpectedly enjoyable!
Paul Blart is a joke. Nobody takes him seriously as he's a failure in everything he does in life.With a list of woes to him, Blart decides that when the mall he works at gets taken by thugs that he will do all he can to fight back and save the mall, the girl he's sweet on and his daughter. I have to say the trailer does not do justice to this movie, as the trailer looked downright boring, BUT the film was so much better. Very entertaining and light to watch.
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6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Boring
I went in to watch the movie with high expectations, but the film has sparingly hilarious moments in the middle of what is a largely dull and unentertaining movie.
If you do in fact rent it, you may at times want to step out to watch a 5 day game of cricket and come back to the movie. -
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
sweet.
Saw this last night in the cinema. Good film! leaves you feeling warm. good to take your kids to (as long as they dont talk all the way through or laugh too loud or rustle through the popcorn or pick n mix bag!! lol sorry i just get kids like that in all the 12A and below films i go into, which ruins seeing disney films in cinemas!)
This film is about a guy who tried out to become a 'cop' but because of need for sugar he didn't do so well.
He is single and lives with his mum and his daughter. He has a job at the local shopping mall and he takes it very seriously.
Thats all im telling you! I think i was feeling a bit ditzy last night so i wasnt on the ball to spot who was going to be a bad guy until it actually happened. So be on your toes :) People i spotted was obviously Kevin James from the 'king of queens' tele show. Also Charlie (Jenna Mays) from Ugly betty (Henry's son's mum) who was also Charlie in Heroes (hiro's waitress love) and also Vince (Robert M. Cannavale) from Will & Grace.
My boyfriend found the film a bit predictable (but to be honest hes got this weird talent to guess the ending to a film and hes always right so i told him to stop telling me how its going to finish because it ruins the film) and when it had finished i agreed but i didnt guess the ending right away because i didnt want to know it until it got there. so if you can sit and watch a film with out giving into temptation and guessing the end of the film then you'll like this film.
over all id say this film was a good laugh but agreeably a bit predictable.
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- beccaandjay from Manchester
- Posted 25 Mar 2009 20:29
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
mall cop
much funnier than i thought it was going to be, i was pleasantly surprised with mall cop. the story isnt very original, but it's a good watch nonetheless. definately worth checking out. it will fill up some time on a boring afternoon.
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- showmethemoney from South Wales
- Posted 15 Aug 2009 11:48
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Not bad
I was expecting this film to be fab as I had heard some good reviews, however I was quite dissappointed, it was ok and was very funny when it got to about half way through, but the start was not funny and my boyfriend even wanted to turn it off at the start, but we persisted and it was worth it at the end. But if you are impatient and want to laugh from start to finish this isn't the film for you.
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
The Funniest!!
This was one of the most funniest films I have seen in a long time.
A must see!! -
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
mall cop
basically your usual over weight no good with girls guy, meets barby doll girl, makes a fool of himself , then turns hero and gets his girl.If you fancy two films and this is one of them get the other one,as this is just ok, if there is nothing else to watch.
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
Great Family Fun
Good watch, great family fun. The story could have done with few more characters and stores in the mall, but none the less a good film.
Critics' reviews
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Kevin James, last seen opposite Adam Sandler in the gay-for-pay trainwreck of I Now Pronounce You Chuck and... read more on Time Out