Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 parents guide

Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 Parent Guide

Even if "Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2" isn't worthy of cinematic acclaim, it still holds a place in the pecking order of the suburban multiplex.

Overall B

Paul Blart (Kevin James) is still a mall cop. In this sequel he heads to Las Vegas for a security guard conference and ends up having to prove his tough side again.

Release date April 17, 2015

Violence C+
Sexual Content A-
Profanity A
Substance Use B-

Why is Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 rated PG? The MPAA rated Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 PG for some violence.

Run Time: 94 minutes

Official Movie Site

Parent Movie Review

I knew the moment I left the screening of this film that my review would be an outlier within the realm of sophisticated critical assessment. Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 epitomizes what virtually every critic loves to hate. The writing isn’t sharp, most of the performances range from mediocre to uninspiring, and the plot is contrived with a conclusion that offers no surprise. Fifteen minutes in, I was ready to hop on board the hate-train, until I realized that my theater was full of young people laughing, while I was smugly enduring. And that’s when my change of perspective occurred.

This film comes from Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions, a pop culture factory that cranks out title after title that I have not cared to see. What’s unusual about the pair of Paul Blart films, compared to their edgier Happy Madison cousins, is the PG rating. Most Sandler epics push the PG-13 envelope to the limit. This movie, with no sexual content or profanity, doesn’t even stretch the PG category—also amazing considering Sandler’s best comic buddy Kevin James is the star.

The story is built to work fast and simple. Blart (James) has been working in a New Jersey mall since his heroic feat on a busy Black Friday six years earlier. But life hasn’t been so kind to the rotund protector of commerce since then. The single dad found a new bride, only to have her leave days after the marriage. Recommitting himself to his job and teen daughter Maya (Raini Rodriguez) his mundane life is finally interrupted by a new hope when he’s invited to a security guards’ convention in Las Vegas. And rumor has it that he will be the hero of the show and will be asked to deliver the keynote speech.

With Maya in tow, he arrives at the Wynn Resort in Vegas and is met by Lane, an eager young attendant (David Henrie) who immediately hits it off with Maya. That sets a side plot in motion where we learn this father feels a need to offer security to everyone, including his over-parented daughter. Soon we are also introduced to the “bad guy.” Vincent (Neal McDonough) lost a bundle at the resort’s casino during his last stay, and now he’s back with the hopes of taking some priceless art with him. Yup, we have all the ingredients for a father to demonstrate his bumbling abilities and head to a heroic conclusion.

Obviously there are violent confrontations that will take place, some of them with guns. And while one person is injured with a bullet, and others are threatened at gunpoint, the ongoing joke of security guards not being real cops keeps a lid on the carnage. While at the convention, Blart discovers a range of non-lethal weapons, like a beanbag gun and a pistol that covers the floor in marbles. The ubiquitous Taser is also used repeatedly on a character—something kids shouldn’t emulate. Perhaps the worst moment is near the beginning of the film when a milk truck suddenly strikes Blart’s mother. The incident happens quickly and is intended to be funny. Your mileage may vary.

Moving into more positive territory, the script offers positive body image messages. Even though Maya is a bigger girl, no particular mention is made of this during her encounters with Lane and his friends. Maya also proves she’s able to problem solve and her desire to become independent doesn’t diminish her appreciation for her dad.

Back to my new found perspective. I recalled being ten years old and watching movies with goofy villains and ridiculous concepts with stars like Don Knotts, Dean Jones, and Buddy Hackett. Back then I was laughing just as the kids next to me were with Kevin James. Today we look upon those films with sentimental distortion—but if I were an adult in 1968 sitting in a theater watching The Shakiest Gun in the West, I’m not sure I would have been any more engaged than I was in this movie. It’s easy to forget what makes a kid laugh. And even if this second Blart isn’t worthy of cinematic acclaim, it still holds a place in the pecking order of the suburban multiplex.

Directed by Andy Fickman. Starring Kevin James, Raini Rodriguez, Eduardo Verástegui. Running time: 94 minutes. Theatrical release April 17, 2015. Updated

Paul Blart Mall Cop 2
Rating & Content Info

Why is Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 rated PG? Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 is rated PG by the MPAA for some violence.

Violence: Confrontations involve the use of typical guns, and one character is injured with gunfire. Other non-lethal weapons include multiple uses of a Taser, a beanbag gun and a device that throws marbles on a floor. Some hand-to-hand confrontations are also depicted with characters fighting and hitting each other with various objects—no blood effects are seen and no lives are lost. A man punches an elderly woman after mistakenly thinking she is an assailant. A woman enters a street and is suddenly hit by a fast-moving vehicle—the brief moment of impact is blurred. A character, stunt riding a Segway, is hit by a car driving at low speed and is mildly injured. A character, in self-defense, covers another character in a substance that causes a severe allergic reaction—we see hives on the skin.

Sexual Content: An adult man and woman discuss their attraction for each other.

Language: No profanities noted.

Alcohol / Drug Use: A secondary character is seen drinking in a bar, and later passes out on a sofa. Other social drinking is depicted.

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Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 Parents' Guide

Talk about the movie with your family…

What are Paul Blart’s insecurities? How accurate do you think it is to represent security guards as being “wannabe” police? What aspects of your life leave you feeling vunerable?

How is body image presented in this movie? When is it used for comedic purposes? When is body size ignored or not a factor? How are larger people usually represented in movies?

What product placements do you see in this film? How does the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas benefit from this movie? Are you more curious about the hotel after watching this movie? Why are product placements in films more effective than traditional advertising?

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 movie is July 14, 2015. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2
Release Date: 14 July 2015
Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 releases to home video (Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy) with the following bonus extras:
- Six Deleted Scenes
- Gag Reel
- Photo Gallery
- Featurette: Security Force: The Cast of Paul Blart 2 – The gang is all back with some very notable additions!
- Featurette: How to Make a Movie – Director Andy Fickman gives a tour of each department on the film.
- Featurette: Action Adventure – Cast and Crew talk about creating the action set pieces from the stairs to the Zip Line!
- Featurette: Back in the Saddle – Kevin James gets his bearings on his old friend, the Segway.
- Featurette: Le Reve – Go behind the scenes of La Reve as filming gets underway.
- Featurette: No Animals Were Harmed – Paul’s attacker is revealed in his natural state.
- Featurette: Sales Tactics – Sometimes nailing a line takes time. A lot of time.
- Featurette: Real Cops – Hear from Nevada’s finest about their thoughts on Blart.

Related home video titles:

This movie is the sequel to Paul Blart Mall Cop. Actor Kevin James can also be seen in Hitch. Silly villain comedy is also depicted in The Apple Dumpling Gang, starring Don Knotts.

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