Funnyman Kevin James is at it again in Mall Cop

by Justin Fish

Actor Kevin James (from the sitcom The King of Queens and the movie I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry); he is at it again with his much anticipated new movie Paul Blart: Mall Cop.

The movie opens at the New Jersey State Police Academy in the autumn of 2008. Paul (Kevin James) a single father, attempting to become a cop. He does surprisingly well on the obstacle course despite his size, but passes out due to hypoglycemia, and fails the course. Paul lives with his mother and daughter, who tries to find him a girlfriend on a dating website, as his wife previously left him, and he had been feeling lonely ever since. Disappointed that he fails, he tries to make ends meet as a security officer at West Orange Pavilion Mall. The next day as he is working with a new trainee he gives him a full tour of the mall and while he was showing him the mall he falls for a kiosk owner, Amy. After a few attempts to muster up courage, Blart tries to talk to Amy, but oddly enough asks her for hair products instead. Upon their second encounter Blart offers her a ride on his Segway, and they agree to meet later in a bar where the mall staffs are regular visitors. Unfortunately, Blart accidentally gets drunk and humiliates himself in front of everybody present. Thinking he has ruined his chances with Amy, Paul returns home in low spirits. Later Blart’s co-worker offers him his daughter’s phone so Blart could call Amy.

While Paul is playing “Rock Band” in the mall arcade a group of disguised robbers “seize” the mall. The robbers chase most of the staff and shoppers outside while holding some hostage. Among those being held hostage is Amy. Veck reveals himself to the ringleader, and intends to steal $30 million from the mall by obtaining the codes to the mall’s credit card machines.

The West Orange Police, led by Sgt. Howard, surround the mall, but are not exactly sure of the situation inside the mall. After a while Blart realizes that the mall has been taken over, he contacts Sgt. Howard. Realizing that Amy has been taken hostage he can wait no longer for help and takes matters into his own hands. He starts by weakening the robbers one-by-one, and recording the stolen credit car codes. Veck tries to escape to the airport and get away, but Blart and officers ambush him there. In the end, Blart and Amy get married and live happily ever after.

Overall I thought the movie was funny and a good movie but the storyline was kinda shaky, meaning that it was a typical movie with Blart falling in love with a woman and they end up marrying each other in the end. Kevin James is a good actor and a funny comedian, and I thought the movie was good, but the story line needed help. I also think that Kevin James was the perfect actor for this movie, as well as Jayma Mays as the actress.