Observe and Report Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.0

Observe and Report Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf August 20, 2024

Acting as a counterpoint to the Judd Apatow brand of edgy-but-huggable comedy is Jody Hill. The director of “The Foot Fist Way” and a guiding force behind “Eastbound & Down” and “Vice Principals,” Hill has built his name through a deployment of toxic absurdity, showcasing his favorite subject: the unholy wrath of the social reject who takes himself seriously. “Observe and Report” presents Hill with his largest cinematic canvas, and while the film doesn’t always balance its bizarre mojo with razor-sharp skill, Hill deserves credit for sticking to his morbid vision, submitting an acidic, anarchic layer cake of mental illness with star Seth Rogen doing his best to capture such psychosis.

Bi-polar, self-centered, and taser-empowered, Ronnie Barnhardt (Seth Rogen) furiously stalks the hallways and parking lots of the Forest Ridge Mall as the head of security. When a determined flasher hits the property, frightening an adored cosmetics employee (Anna Faris), Ronnie makes it his duty to take down the perpetrator. Competing for law-enforcement glory is Detective Harrison (Ray Liotta), who can’t stand Ronnie and his delusions of power. Hoping to join the force and make the leap from golf carts to squad cars, Ronnie finds his aspirations thwarted by his own troubling mania, leading the mall cop to reach for greater acts of curdled heroism to prove himself to an uncaring world.

“Observe and Report” isn’t a grand statement of big league studio opportunity from Hill, as the picture struts with the same slap-happy attitude the moviemaker favors. The only new elements on display here are an actual budget (A Hill first) and Rogen, who replaces longtime collaborator Danny McBride (appearing in a tiny cameo here as a crack dealer/devoted father). The new surroundings seem to embolden Hill’s furrowed brow fixation on lunacy and he constructs a demented procedural comedy that lounges in the headspace of a psychopath, examining his propensity for violence and swollen sense of purpose. Warm and fuzzy this film is most certainly not.

Comparisons to “Taxi Driver” are quite apt, with Hill and Rogen instilling Ronnie with the same soufflé of psychosis that created an iconic screen lunatic in Travis Bickle. Living with a gleefully alcoholic mother (Celia Weston), finding a romantic fixation in a woman that wants nothing to do with him (Faris dives into the part), and refused access to his treasured police dreams, Ronnie is a time bomb of disillusionment and doubts tucked neatly into a polyester uniform. Again, Hill plays all of the above for laughs, often aggressively so, using blunt editing and blasts of glorious soundtrack cuts (including Queen’s “It’s Late” and “The Hero”) to highlight the unnervingly silly fragmentation of Ronnie’s diseased mind.

While claustrophobic and defiantly specialized, “Observe and Report” is heavy with brutal slapstick and broad humor to keep the laughs coming. Rogen’s deliriously committed performance acts as a beacon for the rest of the gags, most centered on lackluster mall crime stopping and awkward employee interaction (Collette Wolfe shines brightly as Ronnie’s lone food court supporter). Being a film created primarily to make viewers uncomfortable, farcical asides into drug abuse, graphic male nudity, and extreme violence are sure to divide the audience, but Hill sets a tone of impalement early on that the feature is more than happy to live up to. If Ronnie’s corrosive antics strike you as nauseating within the opening 10 minutes of the picture, where Hill ultimately takes “Observe and Report” is not somewhere you’ll want to follow.

Observe and Report Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation is listed as a "new 2K remaster of the interpositive approved by writer-director Jody Hill." Color remains vivid throughout the viewing experience, especially with the sharp blues of mall cop uniforms and the rainbow hues of mall signage. Greenery is distinct, along with hair color. Skin tones are mostly normal, with a little hotness here and there. Detail is good, with a sense of facial surfaces and fibrous clothing. Mall interiors retain depth, and exteriors also keep dimension. Delineation is satisfactory. Compression holds together. Source is in good condition.

Observe and Report Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix supplies a crisp sense of performance choices, keeping dialogue exchanges intelligible, even with weirder voices. Scoring supports with clarity, offering distinct instrumentation. Soundtrack selections are also defined, with sharp vocals. Musical moods push out into the surrounds on occasion, joined by periodic atmospherics and a few panning effects. Low-end wakes up with violent events and heavier beats, also registering the power of gunfire.

Observe and Report Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Picture-in-Picture Commentary features writer/director Jody Hill and actors Seth Rogen and Anna Faris.

• "Observed & Reported" (20:34, HD) is an interview with writer/director Jody Hill, who recalls his "watercooler tour," meeting with studios after the cult attention his debut, "The Foot Fist Way," attracted. Pulling from memories of his father's small business experiences, a pitch was formed for "Observe and Report," quickly attracting the attention of Warner Brothers and star Seth Rogen. Trying to "give the finger" to expectations, Hill wanted to make an edgy movie, and one that ultimately made the studios uncomfortable. The question of Ronnie's likability is analyzed, with the interviewee actively attempting to keep the character real. Other casting achievements are celebrated, with Ray Liotta leaning into the creepiness of his part, and the weirdness of Michael Pena's performance is noted. The interviewee details the hunt for the mall, taking over one in Albuquerque, and some technical achievements are noted, including music and cinematography. The feature's reception is recalled, with Hill wanting to make a divisive endeavor, only to end up with a divisive endeavor, bumming him out a little.

• Additional Scenes (27:11, SD) are offered, including an expanded part for then-unknown actor Jesse Plemmons.

• "Basically Training" (6:48, SD) is a short making of for "Observe and Report," primarily focusing on star Seth Rogen's approach to character and his physical commitment to the part, dealing with multiple fight scenes.

• Gag Reel (12:17, SD) explores flubbed lines, improvisation whiffs, and plenty of Seth Rogen laughter.

• "Seth Rogen and Anna Faris: Unscripted" (7:38, SD) examines the improvisation process of the two actors, watching them create scenes together for "Observe and Report." Work from Michael Pena is also celebrated, with cast and crew interviews sharing their pleasure with the results.

• "Forest Ridge Mall: Security Recruitment Video" (3:01, SD) is a faux advertisement, using in-character interviews with the cast to sell the pride of the vocation. Legal language at the end of the clip emphasizes this is all "for entertainment purposes only."

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:32, HD) is included.

Observe and Report Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I laughed heartily at much of "Observe and Report," marveling over its determination to creep out the room with constant displays of pure inhumanity. Ronnie's corruption is not an easy journey to absorb, but "Observe and Report" is committed to the hellish descent all the way. This unswerving dedication to unseemly acts of worthless fortitude forms quite a vivid motion picture, though perhaps one that should come equipped with protective headgear to help enjoy to the fullest possible extent.