The ink-dark comedy Observe and Report is a movie designed to push buttons. But one scene in particular seems to be pushing too hard. The scene involves Seth Rogen's character, delusional mall cop Ronnie Barnhardt, in bed with the women on his dirty dreams, Brandi (Anna Faris), the blondie at the makeup counter on whom Ronnie has focused his freaky lust. At dinner, Ronni had plied his date with Valium washed down with tequila shots to the point where she pukes and passes out. But there's Ronnie on top of Brandi in bed, grunting away over her dead-to-the-world body.
(Watch Peter Travers' video review of Observe and Report)
Ew? You bet. Definite date rape. But wait. Brandi wakes up to slur the line, “Did I tell you to stop, motherfucker?"
Does that make the sex consensual and therefore OK? In interviews, Rogen has indicated that he thinks so. Others disagree."It's a date rape scene, no ifs, ands and buts," Jennifer Storm, a rape survivor and educator in Harrisburg, Pa., told ABCNews.com. "If you mumble an acknowledgment while blacked out, that is not informed consent."
I'm with Storm on that one. The thing that must be pointed out is that the bipolar Ronnie is acting totally in character. Consent or no consent wouldn't faze Ronnie, who has completely lost touch with his moral center, if he ever had one. Rogen and the film's writer-director Jody Hill are telling the story of a guy who's not far from Robert De Niro's American psycho in Taxi Driver. That's why the "comedy" in Observe and Report is R rated. The movie isn't condoning Ronnie's actions. Rogen and Hill know what kind of laughs they're dishing out — the kind that stick in your throat.
What's your take on the situation? In your opinion, is the scene depicting date rape or not? Are Rogen and Hill exercising artistic license in playing the scene for laughs or should their license be revoked?
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Zach | October 20, 2009 11:54 PM
if you have not seen the movie u can not say anything about the scene. I have seen the movie and i think that part is hilarious all on its own, oh my god i think im going to commit date rape now because this movie turned me on to it!! the movie shows a mall security guard shoot a streaker square in the chest in the mall while he was fired but yet he never goes to jail and actually gets his job back as head of security!! whoa this movie is hilarious people r just to soft now a days, everyone is scared to offend someone else....pussies
Shane | July 21, 2009 12:38 PM
It's NOT date rape, she's takes them on her own accord.
Xanatos | July 20, 2009 7:37 PM
Gimmie a break. One, its a movie people. Movies throughout history have shown illegal acts. From slavery to drug dealing to animal cruelty. But news flash....its not real. Get off your high horses. ITS A MOVIE!!! ITS A MOVIE! ITS A MOVIE!
We are so soft as a society now...we are actually crying about a Seth Rogen comedy movie...the end is truly near...shut down...go outside.
tonya | June 3, 2009 11:52 PM
Only reason we look down on men rape'n women in film, is that men are stronger than women and it seems unfair :(
Lowell Hein | April 28, 2009 4:10 AM
Newsflash!
This is a lame discussion about a meaningless movie...a movie that shows we morons turn out in droves to watch garbage..."I'm a victim of rape"..so what??.."I'm a dumb-ass frat boy who like stupid films.."..Yes..
The fact we debate this shit at all truly shows that our priorities are those of dead-brained losers...Go feed the homeless..or whatever.
Leomoviegoer | April 27, 2009 5:15 AM
I think first and foremost, ANYONE who hasn't seen the movie, their opinion is null and void. It's totally ridiculous and a very sad state of affairs when you give people a chance to chime in and not know the source they are even harking about. Do you know how silly you sound when you state "it's date rape" when you haven't even SEEN the movie? Think about it. This is not The Accused mixed with Taxi Driver, it's a silly comedy BEYOND the confines of Paul Blart.
Jack Stark | April 21, 2009 4:58 PM
I hope you do understand that if a woman rapes a man, that is illegal, and subject to criminal prosecution. Nobody is arguing that men should be allowed to get raped by women.
Now we do see more men raping women in our cinema, but lets face it, our criminal system is disproportionately male. In other words, it is more likely for a guy to commit a violent crime than a female.
JP | April 21, 2009 12:14 PM
OK, one last time, I haven't seen the movie. So, I can't make the call.
My biggest peeve is that the people who posts that they are no grey area when it comes to to date rape never address the double standard I bring up when a guy is intoxicated. I can only seem to infer from them that date rape laws should only protect women. So, when a woman is intoxicated, it's hands off. When a man is intoxicated, if he can get it up, then he is fair game. Am I wrong to be troubled by this?
So, let's make one more thing clear: When one party(man or woman) spikes the other party's(man or woman) drink and have nonconsensual sex that is date rape. When one party continues to be sexually aggressive to the other party when that party have said, "No!" that is also rape. I think we can all agree these 2 points to be black and white.
Jack Stark | April 21, 2009 9:22 AM
JP, if you're forced to have sex with someone, that is rape. That is your standard, universal definition of rape: forced sex. It doesn't matter the gender.
There might be a selective outrage in Hollywood over the issue of rape, but that does not make that scene in "Observe and Report" legal.
If a guy gives a girl alcohol/drugs and sees her lying on a bed asleep, and he bangs her, do you really think that is legal or even socially acceptable? Come on now, that is clearly rape.
JP | April 20, 2009 2:35 PM
So, a guy coming to the next day after being drunk/stoned to find that he has sex with a woman he would never be with is not date rape? That gets played for laughs all the time. Check out "Walk Hard" dark period montage, at the end of the montage there is a woman having sex with a passed out Dewey Cox. He comes to and says, "I didn't know you were there." If their genders were reversed, there will be women and rape victims groups crying foul over that scene.
Katelin | April 20, 2009 8:58 AM
I saw Observe and Report the past weekend and although Seth Rogan might be a comedic genius, the scene of him having sex with Anna Faris is definitely not funny; it is distasteful and vulgar. Yes, Anna Faris’s character was pretty fucked up and Seth Rogan’s character has a bipolar issue, it is still not right to make fun of date rape even in the context of a comedy. The majority of date rape is done by men hence there is a natural stigma to find them guilty. There is no excuse or so called “gray areas” of the issue of rape. If someone is pasted out from drugs or alcohol, it is not their part to be blamed. Yes, the victim should take responsibility on her abuse of substances but that is not a reason to excuse the crime being committed. IT IS RAPE, without a doubt. All actors and actresses should think about the audience of their films. Showing rape in a laughable manger is disgusting.
Enddd | April 18, 2009 10:52 PM
it's rape. no question. But somehow, the "Did I tell you to stop?" line makes it funny.
It reminds me of the South Park Episode "Jared's got Aids", where at the end of the episode, everyone celebrates that the AIDS virus is finally funny.
JP | April 18, 2009 3:59 PM
I think I know which movie you are talking about. I want to see it someday.
How date rape is portrayed in movies is trivial compared to the knee-jerk reaction to the accusation of rape in the real world. Best example would be the Duke lacrosse team couple of years back. The guilty should pay for their crimes. However, the accused should be pressumed innocent until proven guilty.
I guess my whole point is: We should take a deep breath and look at all the facts. Before we throw around the accusation of rape. Regardless, if we are talking about a movie or a real life incident.
Andrew Saputo | April 17, 2009 5:42 PM
How about you watch Naked and we can discuss date rape on film a bit further.
JP | April 16, 2009 4:39 PM
If there are no grey area in date rape laws, then tell me who gets raped when two people who are drunk and/or stoned have sex with each other? Please consider all possible pairings: man/woman, woman/woman, and man/man.
I don't mean to be a jerk about it. However, sexual politics the last 20 years has made men guilty before proven innocent. If both party involved can't give "their informed, voluntary, conscious consent prior to participating in sexual activity" then who is guilty?
Jack Stark | April 16, 2009 9:22 AM
Guys, I have not seen the movie, but based on the clip shown in the red band trailer, I think it is rape.
In order for a contract, in this case a sexual contract, to be binding, the couple needs to agree ahead of the time to have sex. In the case of "Observe and Report," this was not the case. It looks like Ronnie saw Brandi sleeping on a bed, and immediately started to have sex with her.
Rogen claims that the "Why are you stopping" line makes the act legal, but it does not. How do you know she wasn't dreaming or hallucinating? Ronnie still took advantage of Brandi and gave her drugs and alcohol, and that put her in a state of confusion and the inability to make rational decisions.
Caroline | April 16, 2009 1:08 AM
I'm going to be as clear as I can. Abusing drugs and alcohol (valium + tequila) does NOT constitute rape. Rape implies no consent, that's why it is called rape. Therefore no one asks to be raped, no one has it coming to them either. Everyone who is trying to use that argument needs to evaluate their principles.
Heather Elliott | April 15, 2009 10:41 PM
I have not seen the film, but by any description available it IS date rape. For everyone talking about gray zones, victim blaming ("she should have known better," etc.), that is crap. Unless a person gives their informed, voluntary, conscious consent prior to participating in sexual activity, it is considered sexual assault/rape.
Harrison | April 15, 2009 8:14 AM
I so think it is she tells him to keep going.
Bo | April 15, 2009 7:32 AM
I can't really opinion myself here, but they obviously both share responsibility for their intercourse, anyway I am glad that this film was made with somewhat more popular actors.
Mmhmm | April 15, 2009 3:24 AM
Who gives a fuck. "Dark comedies" much more often attempt to twist humor into various scenes of stark, grisly murder, so you tell me which one is worse and why there's no "outrage" regarding any of these other themes or images when they appear in this style of film, over and over and over. If this is apparently such a hotbutton issue, shouldn't we instead be thankful that a film like this will reach an audience who can both laugh at *and* benefit from it? If you don't want to be date raped by a confused freak, probably don't spend time with him and then *knowingly* render yourself unconscious by slamming pills and booze down your trampy face.
gil | April 14, 2009 8:43 PM
so what? movies show rape, murder, torture, drug abuse,and guys making people listening to the carpenters (hehe cheap shot innit) ALL THE TIME! why is this any different? even if it was a rape, it clearly shows ronnie is NOT a good guy, even if he is the main character! if it's rated R, anything goes. i haven't seen the movie yet (i will, ASAP), but all this is based on pete's pretty detailed review.
Steve | April 14, 2009 7:56 PM
This scene is extremely disturbing but somehow we empathize with the main character. I've not laughed this hard in a long time
Steve | April 14, 2009 6:37 PM
I've yet to see this film but isn't his character supposed to have the delusional Travis Bickle thing going on? If that's the case then I don't think the audience is supposed to be able to relate or look up to this guy in any way. It's meant to be an uncomfortable character study is it not? On the other hand if you go to this film and laugh with the character instead of at it then you have problems indeed.
Trevor | April 14, 2009 5:56 PM
Observe and Report is a character study, that of a deeply troubled man, and I agree with Pete Travers that it was Ronnie acting in character. Was it date rape? Yes. Was it funny? Yes. But that by no means condones or encourages this kind of behavior, which would then be a call for outrage, but given the context of the scene people should just relax.
Ryan | April 14, 2009 5:41 PM
I agree with Guthrie. Though not to sound weird or defending it, Ronnie did not give her the pills, she asked for them and he complied. Plus, she didn't have to take ALL of them, and then she ordered shots on top of that. It's probably not consensual, but in she was conscious, just stupid.
Guthrie | April 14, 2009 5:11 PM
Not to condone that sort of thing, but Ronnie did not make her take any valium or whatever the pills were. She asked and he complied. She ordered the shots. Hill's writing places Brandi as an extremely clueless and stupid girl. Ronnie could've gone either way but because he's deluded, he takes her. Is it consent? Probably not. But is it Ronnie fault? No.
JP | April 14, 2009 2:14 PM
I haven't watch the movie yet. (I'm planning on seeing it on DVD.) If the character is voluntarily taking valium and tequila, then later having sex with the person who gave it to her. Then it's not as clear cut as someone who has spiked a woman's drink with valium or any other "date rape" drugs and having nonconsenual sex with her. Date rape laws can get into grey area of sexual politics. For example: is it date rape when a sober woman have sex with a drunk man? What are the rules dealing with mentally handicapped people?
I'm all for protecting people against sexual assault. We need to have laws that protect everybody equally and wisely.
John Heuer | April 14, 2009 1:53 PM
I think it's date rape. what's supposed to be funny about the scene is that rogan's character is so disillusion he don't realize she doesn't want him and that he's is really taking advantage of her.