mall cop Tagged Articles at Cinematical
Kevin James' 'Mall Cop' Goes Viral
Filed under: Comedy », Fandom », Movie Marketing »
A new video is floating around the internets today, and it appears to be of the viral variety. Really? They're using viral videos to market movies now? When did that start becoming the hottest new trend evah?! Anyway, this particular video (see above) seems to be related to that new Kevin James flick Mall Cop (or Paul Blart: Mall Cop), since, well, it features Kevin James playing a loser-ish mall cop. Directed by Steve Carr (Mama's Boy, Daddy Day Care), James stars as a mild-mannered mall cop who is called to action when a group of organized crooks strike his sacred consumer land.
The video above, however, attempts to set up James' character by showing you how he handles a pesky skateboarder (played by Mike Vallely) who's in the middle of shooting one of those "lets skate around and destroy property" amateur videos. It's not a trailer, so don't judge the entire flick on what you see above -- but I will admit to laughing a couple of times (especially towards the end) while watching. Sure, we've been there and done that when it comes to your typical mall cop cliches, though I'm interested to see how well James carries a film all on his own. Dude definitely has some funny in him -- whaddya think?
Mall Cop hits theaters on [cough] January 16, 2009.
Jayma Mays and Keir O'Donnell Join 'Mall Cop'
Filed under: Comedy », Casting », Deals »
Like dueling asteroids and meteors, like competing Truman Capotes, two separate comedies about the world of mall security are moving forward. And The Hollywood Reporter today gave word that the Kevin James comedy Mall Cop -- not, of course, to be confused with the just-announced Seth Rogen film Observe and Report -- is moving forward with casting. Epic Movie "star" Jayma Mays (who the keen-eyed among you will also recognize from Ugly Betty, Heroes and Pushing Daisies) will be playing James' love interest, while Keir O'Donnell (Wedding Crashers) will be playing a fellow security officer. (The Hollywood Reporter piece also contains spoilers, so those of you who wish to have your enjoyment of Kevin James unsullied by too much information may wish to be cautious about clicking through). Of course, just as with Armageddon versus Deep Impact or Capote versus Infamous, the final arbiter of victory for Mall Cop and Observe and Report will be the audience -- so which are you more interested in seeing? James, or Rogen? Or will your inner polyester-clad authority figure split the difference and compel you to see both? And finally, heretical as it is to apply historical perspective to big-concept comedies, didn't Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn already make this movie?
Seth Rogen is a Mall Cop
Filed under: Comedy », Casting »
He's currently filming a porno with Elizabeth Banks, and you'd think it would be pretty hard to top that. Well, Seth Rogen has found his next picture, and it has him joining the dangerous, fast-paced world of mall security. Variety reports that Rogen will star in the upcoming comedy Observe and Report, written by Jody Hill. Being a mall cop might sound a little bland after the world of triple-X, but this project has got a bit of a twist to it.Rogen will play Ronnie Barnhardt -- "a deluded, self-important head of mall security who squares off in a turf war against the local cops." It's not every day that mall security ends in turf wars. However, this is one case where there will be a bit of a battle off-screen. You might remember that Kevin James has his own flick on the way called Mall Cop.
Personally, I think this is an easy choice. Some kidlets and PG-lovers will head right over to James' version, where thieves take over his mall. But really, would you want that if you could have a mall turf war? One with Seth Rogen? Production gears up next month after Zack & Miri wraps.
Carr Directing 'Mall Cop'
When news first came about Mall Cop, it was clear it had to be a kids' movie. Reminiscent of Home Alone, it features a burglary attempt at a mall. But it stars Kevin James rather than a kid or bunch of kids as the person who thwarts the criminals' plan. Still likely a slapstick-heavy comedy, it just doesn't have the same appeal as a movie where kids outsmart adults. Then Steve Pink, who co-wrote Grosse Pointe Blank and High Fidelity, came on board to script the thing. Suddenly it sounded like it could be a little wittier than originally expected. However, now we're back to square one, because Variety reports that Mall Cop will be directed by Steve Carr. In case you aren't familiar with the guy's work, here's a sampling: Dr. Doolittle 2; Are We Done Yet?; Daddy Day Care; Rebound. All PG movies. Sure, his first movie, Next Friday, wasn't for kids, but he certainly seems on track to deliver only family friendly films these days. So far, James has been pretty successful in his transition from TV to movies. Of course, it helped that in his two hit comedies he was the co-star of Will Smith and then Adam Sandler. Mall Cop will be his first vehicle as sole star unless some big name comedian is cast as one of the burglars. Considering Happy Madison is producing, that big name would have to be Sandler. With little chance of that casting happening, though, James could settle for a lesser co-star in Happy Madison regular Rob Schneider. However, then we'd again be wishing that young Macaulay Culkin was in this thing, since Schneider played one of the many semi-baddies in Home Alone 2. Honestly, I'd settle to see any kid in there -- even a young Erik Davis -- instead of James. I guess the title wouldn't make much sense then, though.
Steve Pink to Rewrite 'Mall Cop'
Filed under: Comedy », Deals », Scripts », Newsstand »
It hasn't even been a month since it was announced that the fake gay fireman King of Queens, Kevin James, was going to write, produce, and star in an upcoming comedy called Mall Cop. The comedy is about a "mild-mannered security guard thrust into action when his mall is taken over by highly organized thieves." James has written an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond, as well as a bunch of eps for his own show, but this is his first feature -- and it looks like it hit a little bit of a snag. Variety reports that Steve Pink has been picked to "pen a draft" of the Happy Madison/Columbia film.Sure, scripts get re-written all the time, but I wonder how this will work when they get the new script back, rather than a plain spruce, since James is both starring and producing as well. Will he accept Pink's draft as is? Will this become a big back-and-forth deal? He's the guy delivering the lines, after all. But they won't have long to finalize this -- assuming that the strike still happens next summer, the plan is to start production this Spring and get it wrapped beforehand.
The good news in this -- Pink hit it out of the ballpark with his first two screenplays -- John Cusack's Grosse Pointe Blank and High Fidelity. He hasn't put another out since -- although he is in line for Fletch Won and The Prom. He has, however, kept busy with other projects, such as helming the Justin Long comedy, Accepted. They haven't picked a director yet, so I wouldn't be surprised if he signs on for that as well. Excited yet? I know I am ... well, not really.
Kevin James Becomes a 'Mall Cop'
Filed under: Comedy », Casting », Newsstand »
Confession time: When I was young, like 10 or so, I had a very vivid imagination. Sometimes, when I couldn't sleep at night (and this is before girls entered the picture, just so you know) I'd imagine myself in ridiculous situations where, ultimately, I could save the day. Since I was always at the mall (big shout out to the Staten Island Mall -- holla!), occasionally I'd concoct a day-dream that involved armed men taking over the mall, with me as the only one who could put a stop to it. I know, I was 10 -- what can I say? Don't you love these little personal stories? Anyway, Kevin James somehow snuck into my dreams and decided to turn them into a feature-length movie. Damn him!
Variety reports that James will write, produce and star in a comedy called Mall Cop. And if you paid any attention to my previous paragraph, you probably already know what it's about. Yup, James will play a mild-mannered security guard who's forced to take action when a group of organized thieves take over his mall. Look for plenty of product placement and mall cop jokes to ensue. Columbia Pictures will shovel this one out, with Happy Madison producing -- which means, yes, Rob Schneider will most likely show up in some capacity. While I like James, he still hasn't convinced me he can hold down an entire film by himself. But it's an idea that has potential, so we'll see where they go with it. No director, cast, production schedule or random Adam Sandler cameo has been announced at this time.
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