Seth Rogen’s sad and rageful and strange and strangely funny new movie, about a bipolar mall cop hungry for glory, is not your typical Seth Rogen vehicle. (Whatever that means…though it usually involves Judd Apatow and Rogen in a message T-shirt.) It’s kind of a delight to see a mainstream star cannonball into something as deeply weird as Jody Hill’s Observe and Report. But it’s not for everybody, that’s for sure. Paul Blart would probably storm out of the theater at the first sight of the mall flasher and his flaccid, bobbing penis.
Nobody is more surprised that a mainstream studio like Warner Brothers would release such dark fare than Rogen himself. “I can’t believe it,” says the 26-year-old actor. “I watch this movie and I can’t believe they let us do it. My favorite types of comedies are the ones that literally make me think of the infrastructure of the company that made them. It’s like when I first started watching South Park. How were they allowed to do this? What company is funding this?”
In a movie full of head-bashing, penis-flopping, and syringe-shooting, there’s one scene especially that doesn’t sit well for some. Brandi (played with divine obnoxiousness by Anna Faris) deigns to go on a date with Rogen. She gets schlitzed on shots and pills, and vomits a little on herself by night’s end. The scene then cuts to Rogen pounding away atop her limp body (a snippet can be seen in the NSFW red band trailer below).
More Observe and Report:
Observe and Report: Who is your top scene stealer?
Observe and Report: EW review
In the theater, where I first watched the movie, the tense audience gave a collective sigh of relief, followed by a wheeze of nervous laughter, when Faris’ character rouses and barks at him to keep at it already. “I think people are laughing because I’m not being full on date-raped,” says Faris. “I’m not sure it makes things much better,” she says, with an earnest grimace, “but we don’t need to go down that road.”
The sex scene was always in the script, but because it is a big studio movie, Faris says she “really thought they would weed stuff out. And they did some, but not a whole lot. And I’m proud of that, actually. But at the time when we were shooting that scene, it was like, ‘Really? We’re going to do this? Vomit down the side of my face? Really?’” Rogen says nobody at the studio ever asked them to alter or excise the scene. “There were some arguments with the studio,” he says. “That wasn’t one of them. Shockingly.” (Warner Brothers chose not to comment on the matter.)
I’m not sure how audiences will respond to the movie. (Entertainment Weekly critic Lisa Schwarzbaum writes that Observe and Report is “risky and riotous” and gives it an A-.) My fear, I suppose, is that because of that one scene, some folks will blast the movie without even bothering to see it. Where are these same outraged people every week when Law & Order: SVU parades yet another crooked tableau of some raped and mutilated woman’s body before the beginning credits?
Moviegoers, you’ve been warned. Observe and Report is in fact an odd and sort of creepy black comedy. Maybe I’m sick in the head, but I still recommend it.
In the theater, where I first watched the movie, the tense audience gave a collective sigh of relief, followed by a wheeze of nervous laughter, when Faris’ character rouses and barks at him to keep at it already. "I think people are laughing because I’m not being full on date-raped," says Faris. "I’m not sure it makes things much better," she says, with an earnest grimace, "but we don’t need to go down that road."
The sex scene was always in the script, but because it is a big studio movie, Faris says she "really thought they would weed stuff out. And they did some, but not a whole lot. And I’m proud of that, actually. But at the time when we were shooting that scene, it was like, ‘Really? We’re going to do this? Vomit down the side of my face? Really?’" Rogen says nobody at the studio ever asked them to alter or excise the scene. "There were some arguments with the studio," he says. "That wasn’t one of them. Shockingly." (Warner Brothers chose not to comment on the matter.)
I’m not sure how audiences will respond to the movie. (Entertainment Weekly critic Lisa Schwarzbaum writes that Observe and Report is “risky and riotous” and gives it an A-.) My fear, I suppose, is that because of that one scene, some folks will blast the movie without even bothering to see it. Where are these same outraged people every week when Law & Order: SVU parades yet another crooked tableau of some raped and mutilated woman’s body before the beginning credits?
Moviegoers, you’ve been warned. Observe and Report is in fact an odd and sort of creepy black comedy. Maybe I’m sick in the head, but I still recommend it.
The difference between Law & Order:SUV and Observe and Report is that Law & Order isn’t playing rape for laughs.
Seth Rogen is neither “mainstream” nor a “star.” Movies like this are the reason he’s well-known!
Looks awful, in an unfunny way. I’m fine with artists pushing boundaries as long as there is some point to it. But just to get a stupid laugh? Forget about it.
*reads previous comments*
You’re psychic, Karen. The righteously indignant have spoken.
For the record…I won’t be seeing the movie, but I made that call long before I read this article.
I for one am glad that the movie studios aren’t keeping everything “PC” to cater to the overly sensitive public. I applaud Warner Brothers for releasing this movie and will be looking forward to seeing it.
I would say that Seth Rogen is a star in the sameway that Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey, and Chris Farley were stars as comedic actors which seems to be a dying breed nowadays.
Can’t wait to see it. I am surprised WB gave money for this movie. It seems more like an indie/cult type of movie. Well, good for a studio to branch out there. I have to be honest, studio comedies have gotten a lot better lately. I don’t hate studio movies, I’m just mad that they always do the same thing. Good to see some new grounds being covered. Kudos dancing frog!
Anna is funny and hot. Gotta love her:
http://www.actressscene.com/search/label/Anna%20Faris
You are allowed to play ANYTHING for a laugh. You yourself have laughed at something that others would find horrific, so stop judging others that don’t share your same exact set of standards.
These type of movies are going further and further out there. I don’t know what boundary is left to cross, but whatever it is, Seth Rogen will be there.
Hey “Ned” Beatty. Was that you taking a pounding in the rear in Deliverence, because I laughed at that? Did you find that sick or funny? Perv.
Hey NSR. You notice when I used the phrase “played for a laugh”? That would suggest the creators of the material intentionally were attempting comedy, not that it’s okay for creeps to get the chuckles during “The Accused”.
I don’t think the issue is whether it’s “PC” or funny or not … I think the issue is the fact that date-rape scenes like this actually happen in realy life and way too frequently. And unfortunately, even though this is just a movie, it’s targeted towards males who will find themselves in the same situation. This movie tells them it’s okay when it’s not. It’s a shame because I think they could have gotten just as many laughs with a drunken sex scene where the girl gives consent and falls asleep during it or vomits during it. Or whatever. I’m not a writer. I’m just some who thinks everyone involved should have taken a little more social responsibility.
The only thing this guy has going for him is that he is a Hebrew.He is terribly unfunny
Seriously? “Where are these same outraged people every week when Law & Order: SVU parades yet another crooked tableau of some raped and mutilated woman’s body before the beginning credits?”
The big difference: one show is telling you it’s criminal and the other movie is telling you it’s funny.
The “date rape” scene is gawd-awful. Typical that this film is written and directed by a guy – probably a mega-nerd all his life. Poor Anna Faris! No female (actress) should have to ever come into contact with a sleaze like Seth Rogen. There is nothing remotely attractive about him. He is UGLY….just disgusting and revolting!