Kevin James goes kiddy-style in Paul Blart: Mall Cop, a nice little surprise that struggles to find its way in the first half-hour, but gains a big heart and some cool action in its final hour. It most definitely falls prey to almost every imaginable kids movie cliche in the book.
James plays Paul Blart, a 10-year mall cop who lives with his mother and daughter. He takes his job very seriously, at one point pulling over an old man in an electric wheelchair for "speeding". But he is a bit lonely, and desires a girlfriend. Subsequently, he falls for a kind saleswoman named Amy. But when a group of thieves take over the mall and hold Blart's daughter and Amy hostage, Blart fights his way through the mall to save them.
The film's best scenes are when it parodies 'Die Hard'. A particularly memorable one is where Blart yowls in pain and lifts up his sleeve. A miniscule cut on his arm. He then applies a Hello Kitty band-aid. This is the general attitude of the film. The first 30 minutes are really bad, if only because the jokes either revolve around his weight or...well, that's practically all the jokes are for the first 30 minutes.
When the mall is taken over, the film really picks up the pace. Seeing James as a childrens-film star is startling, but as an action star is pretty funny. It showcases his talent, and he really hasn't been too funny since 'King of Queens'. It's nothing special, but it's funny, has some cool stunts, and as a kids movie isn't too bad. B-
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