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Parents' Guide to

Paul Blart: Mall Cop

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Kevin James' slapstick comedy will amuse older tweens.

Movie PG 2009 97 minutes
Paul Blart: Mall Cop Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 10+

Based on 33 parent reviews

Anonymos
Anonymos Adult
June 26, 2019
age 2+
Anounymous
Anounymous Parent of 1-year-old
June 19, 2019
age 2+
See all 33 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Kevin James stars as Paul Blart, a Segway-mounted security guard at New Jersey's West Orange Pavilion Mall. Having repeatedly dropped out of the New Jersey State Troopers' academy test (low blood sugar makes him pass out without any notice), lonely single dad Paul takes his job too seriously and lives with his mom and daughter -- and he hasn't had a date in so long that they set up an online profile for him. After meeting lovely new kiosk owner Amy (Jayma Mays), Paul thinks she could be the one to look past his schlubby exterior to the sweet, courageous man inside. To prove himself to her, he stays in the mall to try and save her and a group of other hostages captured by a group of young criminals on the hunt for a huge identity-theft score.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (33 ):
Kids say (138 ):

At first PAUL BLART: MALL COP just seems like another broad, brainless Adam Sandler-produced comedy aimed at teen and tween boys. But as the plot thickens, James' teddy-bear of a protagonist actually begins to grow on the audience. Despite the many fat jokes (which are thankfully not aimed at Raini Rodriguez, the cute, chubby actress who plays Blart's daughter Maya), there's none of the raunch that's defined Sandler's signature brand of humor. Blart doesn't make apologies for who he is -- a food-loving, mustachioed, unfashionable man who loves his job and his mother and daughter and would risk his life to save any innocent mall shopper.

The physical comedy is surprisingly well executed, with James pratfalling with the ease and grace of Chevy Chase or Buster Keaton. Mays is like the second coming of Anna Faris, and the acrobatic, skateboarding crew of criminals put on an entertaining cat-and-mouse chase around the mall. The mall, it should be noted, deserves its own credit, since the movie prominently plugs many a store -- particularly an extended scene in Victoria's Secret. So, yes, this is a broad, silly comedy filled with consumer brands -- but it also has, embodied in its brave buffoon of Paul Blart, heart.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether the movie's mall setting makes its brand/product placement more or less obvious. Are all of the stores and brands distracting, or are they just part of the scenery? Do you think that has more or less impact than other kinds of product placement?

  • Families can also discuss the appeal of "underdog" heroes. What makes Paul an underdog? How does he overcome the odds?

  • The movie makes several references to his weight, as well as featuring sight gags about obese women. Is it OK to poke fun at some groups but not others? Why or why not?

Movie Details

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