PAUL BLART, MALL COP 2
US, 2015, 94 minutes, Colour.
Kevin James, Raini Rodriguez, Eduardo Verastegui, Daniella Alonzo, Neal Mc Donagh.
Directed by Andy Fickman.
If you saw the original film, Paul Blart, Mall Cop and enjoyed it, then this is certainly a film for you. It is not a film for highbrow critics who may consider it below their dignity. In fact, it is a light comedy, for passing enjoyment rather than for posterity, some slapstick, some comic situations and lines, the overcoming of villains and heroism for the little guy (metaphorically, because Kevin James is a rather large!).
Kevin James established himself as a comedian, working in stand-up comedy and clubs, moving to television, moving to movies, especially with Adam Sandler whose company has produced this film. He portrays the large man and his attempts at extroverted ego cover a diffident self-image. However, he has found his place of life, working as security man, mall-cop, ever ready to help, communicating with the mall shoppers, even when he does mess-up a lot of things.
At the opening, he marries again, his wife leaving, divorcing after six days. His mother, a glimpse of Shirley Knight, is almost immediately knocked over by the truck, leaving himself and his daughter at home. She, secretly, wants to go to UCLA to study and has been accepted but can’t face telling her father.
So, where is the screenplay to go from here – Las Vegas.
There is a conference of mall-cops and Paul is delighted to go, throwing his weight around when he arrives, with the bus boy, to whom his daughter is immediately attracted, to the man at reception, to the manager of the hotel whom he rather crassly insists is coming on to him. He is advised that he is to give the keynote speech but his colleagues soon disabuse him of that prospect. So, just to be there, with old friends, hang out with them and enjoy the visit.
So, where is the screenplay to go from here – have some arch criminals arrive at the hotel with a plan to steal the paintings, including Van Gogh, some statuary, substituting fakes, and storing everything downstairs to be sold to the highest bidders.
Bring everything together, including the daughter and the bus boy and the criminals, pursued by them and held hostage. In the meantime, the keynote speaker collapses and Paul has to take his place – and, in his earnest speech, he has the ears and tears of all the participants, including the manager standing at the back, and receives thunderous applause.
Back to the criminals, their plans, the crew, the smart execution of stealing, Paul trying to phone his daughter and she him, and then his going into action, the rather hefty man outwitting the arch-criminal and his associates. Of course, this means plenty of comics situations, quite a lot of tasering, people going into swimming pools, and the final confrontation when Paul seems outwitted and outflanked only for his security associates to come and win the day.
And he realises he has been selfish and his daughter is to go to UCLA.
It is mainly a happy ending, although the trailer has a final sequence where Paul flirts with a policewoman on a horse, is given her number, pats the horse who does an enormous back-kick landing Paul across the road. It is that kind of film, geared for a family audience, not a swear word in earshot, something of a slapstick and humorous line comedy.
1. The popularity of the first film? The wide audience? Comedy, Paul as a character, Kevin James? Sequel? The scenes at home, at the mall, Paul Blart in action? Las Vegas, the views, the casinos, the interiors, action? Reception, the rooms, the luxury apartments, the criminals, the corridors? The pools and patios? The audience at home with this kind of setting?
2. Kevin James, his comic style, the large man, the touch of ignorant arrogance, a good heart, in action, interactions with people in the mall, his daughter unable to tell him that she had been accepted to UCLA?
3. Going to Las Vegas, Paul for himself, the flight, wanting attention? The news that he was to make the speech? With his friends, hanging out with them, drinking, the chat, the rivals? His daughter and her seeing the busboy, attracted to him, their meeting? Reception, the reactions? The manager, his attitude towards her, interpreting that she was coming on to him, her continued visits and trying to explain the truth – the moisture on her lip, her being interested in him? The security man, rivalling Paul, his seeming sinister?
4. Paul, the variety of slapstick, many faux pas, his friends, each of the characters, eccentricity, the experts, the champions, the friend falling asleep, the enthusiastic wife? The drinks, his being knocked out from his speech? Paul having to step in, the earnestness of his speech, the response of the audience, tears, applause? The manager and her being drawn in?
5. The villain, his manner, odd? The large crew, and the bodyguards, the security people, the contact within the hotel staff? The aim, the paintings and statues, substitutions, seeing them in action, storage downstairs, the cartons for transfer?
6. The party, in the celebrity room, the daughter and the bus boy, caught by the criminals, attempting to flee, taken hostage, handling the situation, the phone, the calls, Paul and his being upset with his daughter after finding the university acceptance?
7. Paul and his mission, getting the help of his friends, the chases, the taser hits, the verbal confrontations?
8. The daughter, her character, with the boy, Paul finding her letter, upset, being too tough on her?
9. The confrontation, substitutions and paintings, plots, dangers, the friends coming to the rescue?
10. The manager and Paul urging her to go to the security guard?
11. Paul as a hero again, award, allowing his daughter going to UCLA – and the joke of flirting with the policewoman on the horse, patting the horse and the
kick?
12. A family oriented comedy?
