Paul Blart: Mall Cop

Paul Blart: Mall Cop has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in Australia on Amazon Prime Video and Sony Pictures Core Amazon Channel, and in the US on Starz Apple TV Channel. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. Its 5/10 TMDB score, built from 2,744 ratings, reflects a title that consistently delivers. Watch it for Kevin James — stay for everyone else around them. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Amazon Prime Video.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Paul Blart: Mall Cop is worth clearing space for. Paul Blart: Mall Cop gets the fundamentals right first, then finds room to get weird with it. When a shopping mall is taken over by a gang of organized crooks, it's up to a mild-mannered security guard to save the day. Kevin James and Keir O'Donnell lead a cast with the timing to make it work. It hit screens in 2009. What keeps Paul Blart: Mall Cop from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. If you have run out of similar titles to watch, this is a strong next pick. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Kevin James's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.