SXSW 2009: "Observe and Report."
Jody Hill's "Observe and Report" is like a Will Ferrell movie that's been run over by a car again and again until it's warped and unrecognizable. It's still has the rough shape of a feel-good story about a lovable loser, a mall security guard who longs to be a real policeman and who's in love with the bitchy make-up counter girl while failing to see that the sweet coffee stand cashier genuinely cares about him. And it manages to hit every expected point in that scenario, including the triumphant nabbing of a flasher who's been terrorizing the shopping complex, without being in the least bit feel-good -- a testament to Hill, whose willingness to take his laughs darker than anyone would expect and than some will be able to tolerate gave his 2006 debut "The Foot Fist Way" an immediate cult following. Ronnie Barnhardt (Seth Rogen) isn't just an oddball...
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