Will OBSERVE & REPORT show us a new, dark side of Seth Rogen?

by Matt Holmes

Obsessed With Film have seen Seth Rogen's new movie OBSERVE & REPORT... but we are strictly tied to a reviews embargo and for a little while yet Mark Clark can't tell you what he thought of it. Which sucks but I will see what I can weed out of him later, maybe a little hint at how he felt, rather than strictly a review. In the mean time, Warner Bros. are beginning to promote the film across the U.S. and have debuted two new posters from the film, which pack their biggest punch when they are teamed together... jpjpo2jop The reviews from the film's premiere at SXSW have compared it to BAD SANTA and even TAXI DRIVER if Travis Bickle was stuck in a comedy. All of them like the film, call it incredibly dark and crude and claim our whole perception of Seth Rogen might be about to change.

"Seth Rogen tests the limits of his lovable-lug persona in "Observe and Report," playing a character who is at best wildly delusional and at worst a stalker in need of professional care... The result gets plenty of laughs but will leave an odd aftertaste that could make "Observe" less successful than Rogen's less ambiguous outings". says THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. "Think "Travis Bickle: Mall Cop" and you'll have some idea of what to expect from "Observe and Report," writer-director Jody Hill's shockingly and sometimes discomfortingly funny comedy... Taking a setup that could have been played for sitcom jokiness and family-friendly slapstick, Hill attempts something much darker, if not downright transgressive, with a pic bound to divide auds and critics into love-it-or-leave-it". says VARIETY. "Sick, dark, halfway twisted, and drop-dead hilarious, Jody Hill's Observe and Report is a dark comedy full of shocking moments and brave material, plus it's anchored by a lead performance that could change a whole lot of minds regarding Seth Rogen". says CINEMATICAL.
And probably my favourite little review from Drew McWeeny at Hitfix...
(it's sort of amazing)
His full review is coming later. Jody Hill (THE FOOT FIST WAY) has made an edgy comedy which could stretch it's mainstream potential, isn't that such a nice change after the ridiculous PAUL BLART: MALL COP? The movie opens April 10th (U.S.) and April 24th (U.K.)
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Matt Holmes is the co-founder of What Culture, formerly known as Obsessed With Film. He has been blogging about pop culture and entertainment since 2006 and has written over 10,000 articles.