Rating summary

Movie		1.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 Blu-ray Movie Review

"Always bet on Blart..." to deliver a goofy movie.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman June 30, 2015

If what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, one can only hope Paul Blart (Kevin James) stays in Vegas and never wanders onto a movie screen again. It's not that the affable overweight cop is a bad guy, it's that his movies are manufactured and trite, living cartoons, essentially, that rely almost exclusively on tired gags and James' ability to carry them out, usually at his own expense. The films are family-friendly, at least, but they're so devoid of richness, creativity, and purpose that the humor consistently disappoints, even as it's the central focus. The stories are familiar, the characters are flat (minus Blart and his rotund stomach, of course), and the jokes -- physical and verbal alike -- lack spark. The movie is completely dependent on James' ability to carry it, to turn lumps of coal into sparkling diamonds, but even a comedic actor of his skill can't elevate material this dull into anything more than a groan-inducing sloth of a movie with a few chuckles here, a hearty laugh or two there, and nothing else to make it worth a watch.

The He's Always Hungry Games.

Things aren't going well for mall hero Paul Blart. His wife has left him after only a week of marriage, his mother has been hit and killed by a truck, and his daughter Maya (Raini Rodriguez) is reaching that age when she'll want to branch out and leave her father behind for new fertile fields called "college." She's been accepted to UCLA but, knowing how hard things have been on her father, she's reluctant to tell him, never mind leave him. Blart receives an invitation to travel to Las Vegas for a Security Guards expo that will be showing off the latest and greatest in nifty gadgets. He and Maya make the trip together, and as soon as they arrive she finds herself lovestruck with a hotel worker named Lane (David Henrie). While Blart plays with some of the new toys, gambles away his money, and enjoys life in Sin City, a sinister plot is taking place behind the scenes. A criminal named Vincent (Neal McDonough) has put into motion a foolproof plan to steal priceless works of art from the hotel, but he didn't count on a fat fool named Paul Blart getting in his way.

"Paul Blart" is basically a fancy name for "Kevin James." The two are virtually the same considering that Blart's character development is about on par with the Segway he drives in the series, meaning the character is little more than a prop meant to carry a load, in this case humor rather than a hefty mall cop. This film, like the one before it, is completely reliant on James' ability to roll with the gags and find the humor in them, even when the script leaves him high and dry and forced to come up with something resembling "funny" when the story calls for him to perform gag after gag that wore out their welcomes long ago and in countless other movies in which the bumbling hero stumbles through a crisis and saves the day. That means, in this movie, battling some large bird in a zen-like garden, using various non-lethal weapons that shoot glue or beanbags to defeat enemies, or re-energizing by positioning his mouth underneath melting ice cream (see, he's hypoglycemic, so if his blood sugar drops too low, he's in trouble, like, passing out in the middle of the hotel lobby kind of trouble). Most of the gags involve James ending up on the floor, bumbling and stumbling his way through action scenes or diving too far beyond cover and inching his way backwards to safety. James gives it all he's got, but the movie simply never asks him to stretch his abilities, instead settling for the same-old, same-old that might have worked a long time ago (maybe even in a galaxy far, far away) but mostly falls flat here.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 really isn't any different from the first. The series has essentially shifted to Vegas and replaced the mall with a hotel/casino. Blart, as noted above, is back to his old crime-fighting tricks (read: he's the luckiest guy in the world that his hair-brained schemes work and his overweight body carries him to victory). His daughter Maya is once again kidnapped and used a pawn while Blart must muster whatever strength he has to get her back and save the day. Where the first film at least enjoyed a modicum of novelty by way of the setting and the hero, the sequel fails to evolve in any meaningful way, only rearranging a few support pieces but leaving the core essentially untouched. The film introduces a new villain in Neal McDonough's Vincent, a paint-by-numbers baddie who is only as menacing as a PG movie allows. McDonough seems to at least have a bit of fun with the part, as does the entire cast, for that matter, which makes them the movie's real heroes, going all out for a film that's nothing without them and doing their best to breathe some life into an otherwise dreadful movie.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 looks expectedly fantastic on Blu-ray. While the digital photography renders the image somewhat flat and glossy rather than organically filmic, the results are nonetheless impressive. Image clarity is outstanding. The early mall shots reveal storefronts, Blart's crisp white shirt, badge, and patches with remarkable efficiency and lifelike realism. The switch to Vegas presents much more of the same, with fancy hotel appointments looking great, down to the finest little touches and textures. Skin definition is likewise revealing. Colors are sparkling and true; there's no shortage of bold colors to enjoy on everything from bright clothing to multicolored casino objects. Every shade is bright and showy but never gaudy and certainly never dull. Black levels are deep and satisfying while flesh tones are natural and true, showing only a mild push to orange/red in warmly lit rooms. There's a touch of noise in some of the lowest-light moments; the Le Reve show in chapter eleven is the most obvious, but even then it's hardly a distraction. Otherwise, this is a technically flawless image in every way that could easily have been awarded the five full blue "Bs."

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack carries the film's audio needs very well. Music is healthy and robust, enjoying vibrant stage presence -- including a well balanced surround support structure -- and impeccable clarity. Atmospherics are never full alive and totally immersive, but the track presents some nice little casino, crowd, and outdoor ambient effects well enough, again with a fair usage of the surround speakers. A wide dining hall speech delivered via microphone in chapter eight might be the track's best bit, offering natural microphone reverberation throughout the back that effectively places the listener in the middle of the room. Action effects enjoy fair, if not naturally mild, weight and heft. A helicopter zooms overheard with a nice presence while thumps from Blart's beanbag launcher are sufficiently weighty. Other details like a suitcase falling down stairs and splashes into water are about as naturally detailed as can be expected. Dialogue is effortlessly clear and always focused in the front-middle portion of the stage.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 contains a gag reel, deleted scenes, and a bunch of short features. Inside the Blu-ray case, buyers will find a DVD copy and a voucher for a UV digital version of the film.

• Gag Reel (1080p, 7:42).
• Deleted Scenes (1080p): Welcome to the Show (0:47), Meet Eduardo (0:30), Distraction (0:37), The Whack Pack (0:43), The Trouble with Drones (1:15), and Bad Timing (0:50).
• Security Force: The Cast of Paul Blart 2 (1080p, 4:55): The cast talks one another up, touches on the characters they play, and discusses a few scenes.
• Action Adventure (1080p, 5:57): A rapid-fire look at making a few of the film's more involved action scenes.
• Back in the Saddle (1080p, 1:58): A short look at bringing back the Segway for this film and some of its key scenes.
• How to Make a Movie (1080p, 4:12): Director Andy Fickman shows audiences around the world of moviemaking and the people who make it happen.
• Le Reve (1080p, 4:49): A look at how the Vegas show was integrated into the film. The piece introduces some of the show's cast and crew.
• No Animals Were Harmed (1080p, 2:15): A behind-the-scenes look at the film's bird fight sequence.
• Sales Tactics (1080p, 3:27): A comedic piece in which Richie Minervini struggles with his lines.
• Real Cops (1080p, 1:16): Vegas cops share their thoughts on Paul Blart.
• Photo Gallery (1080p): Stills from the set.
• Previews (1080p): Additional Sony titles.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 should satisfy audiences looking for a safe, easy, no-thinking-required Comedy that's fit for the entire family. In that sense, it's not a good feeling to bash it considering that it really does mean well and is just about the least offensive movie out there, but considering everything it gets wrong -- relying on tired jokes, failing to innovate even in the slightest -- there's really not much room for praise. James, at least, seems like he was born to play the part. He does it well, even if what he does doesn't stretch him, or the material, very far. There's a fair bit of potential left in the tank if the filmmakers are willing to put in some effort instead of just recreating the first movie in a different environment. If there is a third, it will hopefully do something fresh. Sony's Blu-ray release of Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 delivers top-end video and high quality audio. Supplements are mostly comprised of short, fluffy featurettes. Rent it.