Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (7/20/2015)

Rated PG for some violence.

Starting Kevin James, Raini Rodriguez and Neal McDonough

Directed by Andy Fickman (The Game Plan and She’s the Man)

I often don’t ask, “how did this film get made?” but this one left me scratching my head.

In this sequel, in which Kevin James reprises the role of Paul Blart, the security guard is headed to Las Vegas to attend a Security Guard Expo with his teenage daughter Maya (Raini Rodriguez) before she departs for college. While at the convention, he inadvertently discovers a heist – and it’s up to Blart to apprehend the criminals.

Let me begin by saying that I am a fan of Kevin James and I actually thought the first Mall Cop movie was pretty funny. So it’s hard for me to understand how this went so terribly wrong.

The sequel gives us more of Kevin James falling on his face, getting hit with heavy objects and even getting kicked by a horse. I’m sure none of those hurt as much as the hit it took at the box office.

What was funny in the first film just seemed old and cliché in this one. Sure he’s been the lovable loser, but in this one he’s more loser than lovable. I only laughed a few times and the story was paper-thin…that’s not a winning combination.

Walking out of the theater a few years ago I anticipated they would make a sequel. But Walking out of the theater this time, I hope that this is the last Mall Cop movie that is ever made. This one was a Coaster.

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
This film is rated PG because of the violence, but I think most kids would see the violence as silly and maybe even humorous.

CONVERSATION STARTER:

1. During Paul’s speech, what is the reason “they do what they do?”


2. How do they help people?


3. What can we learn from their example?

Read Hebrews 13:16

Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.


4. How can we help others?