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Observe and Report

 Observe and Report
type
TVTItem
 Observe and Report
label
Observe and Report
 Observe and Report
page
ObserveAndReport
 Observe and Report
comment
Observe and Report (2009) is a very dark comedy written/directed by Jody Hill and starring Seth Rogen as a bipolar, delusional mall security guard who becomes obsessed with catching a flasher, coming into conflict with a detective (Ray Liotta) also trying to capture the flasher. Being released three months after the PG-rated Paul Blart: Mall Cop, the films have drawn inevitable comparisons to each other.
 Observe and Report
fetched
2023-06-09T08:58:17Z
 Observe and Report
parsed
2023-06-09T08:58:17Z
 Observe and Report
processingComment
Dropped link to SchlubbyScummySecurityGuard: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN
 Observe and Report
processingUnknown
Schlubby, Scummy Security Guard
 Observe and Report
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Observe and Report / int_113472aa
type
Miles Gloriosus
 Observe and Report / int_113472aa
comment
Miles Gloriosus: Subverted. Ronnie appears to be an example, until he unleashes a Curb-Stomp Battle on some hoods.
 Observe and Report / int_113472aa
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-0.3
 Observe and Report / int_113472aa
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1.0
 Observe and Report
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Observe and Report / int_113472aa
 Observe and Report / int_14beeefd
type
Darker and Edgier
 Observe and Report / int_14beeefd
comment
Darker and Edgier than Paul Blart: Mall Cop, in no small part due to being Bloodier and Gorier.
 Observe and Report / int_14beeefd
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1.0
 Observe and Report / int_14beeefd
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1.0
 Observe and Report
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Observe and Report / int_14beeefd
 Observe and Report / int_1501e2dd
type
Hero Antagonist
 Observe and Report / int_1501e2dd
comment
Hero Antagonist: Det. Harrison is just a cop trying to bust a flasher and butting heads with a seriously deranged mall cop, but he's also such a sleazebag that he manages to stay pretty firmly in the villain category.
 Observe and Report / int_1501e2dd
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1.0
 Observe and Report / int_1501e2dd
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Observe and Report / int_1501e2dd
 Observe and Report / int_21f3aa44
type
Good Is Not Nice
 Observe and Report / int_21f3aa44
comment
Good is Not Nice: Ronnie and Harrison.
 Observe and Report / int_21f3aa44
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1.0
 Observe and Report / int_21f3aa44
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1.0
 Observe and Report
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Observe and Report / int_21f3aa44
 Observe and Report / int_222dc873
type
Black Comedy
 Observe and Report / int_222dc873
comment
Black Comedy: This film is the answer to the question "What if Taxi Driver was a comedy?" Or what if Paul Blart was a borderline Villain Protagonist?
 Observe and Report / int_222dc873
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 Observe and Report / int_222dc873
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 Observe and Report
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Observe and Report / int_222dc873
 Observe and Report / int_22a27b19
type
Alpha Bitch
 Observe and Report / int_22a27b19
comment
Alpha Bitch: Brandi through and through.
 Observe and Report / int_22a27b19
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 Observe and Report / int_22a27b19
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 Observe and Report
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Observe and Report / int_22a27b19
 Observe and Report / int_2c1f1138
type
He Who Fights Monsters
 Observe and Report / int_2c1f1138
comment
He Who Fights Monsters: The more Ronnie puts into catching the flasher, the more violent and unhinged he becomes. Dennis eventually persuades Ronnie to beat up children and take drugs, turning Ronnie into a full-blown criminal.
 Observe and Report / int_2c1f1138
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 Observe and Report / int_2c1f1138
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 Observe and Report
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Observe and Report / int_2c1f1138
 Observe and Report / int_33e48eb9
type
Hysterical Woman
 Observe and Report / int_33e48eb9
comment
Hysterical Woman: Brandi after the flasher exposes himself to her
 Observe and Report / int_33e48eb9
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1.0
 Observe and Report / int_33e48eb9
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 Observe and Report
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Observe and Report / int_33e48eb9
 Observe and Report / int_35a858b3
type
Cluster F-Bomb
 Observe and Report / int_35a858b3
comment
Cluster F-Bomb: This movie is loaded with these. One example includes Ronnie and Saddamn (an Indian clerk who is harassed constantly by Ronnie due to his heritage) engaging in an argument consisting of nothing of "fuck you"'s, which grow quiet until they're mouthing the insults to each other.
 Observe and Report / int_35a858b3
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 Observe and Report / int_35a858b3
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Observe and Report / int_35a858b3
 Observe and Report / int_3ac583f4
type
SlidingScaleOfIdealismVsCynicism
 Observe and Report / int_3ac583f4
comment
Sliding Scale of Idealism vs. Cynicism: Far down the cynical end.
 Observe and Report / int_3ac583f4
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1.0
 Observe and Report / int_3ac583f4
featureConfidence
1.0
 Observe and Report
hasFeature
Observe and Report / int_3ac583f4
 Observe and Report / int_3d699462
type
Curb-Stomp Battle
 Observe and Report / int_3d699462
comment
Curb-Stomp Battle: Ronnie vs. six crackheads. They're able to touch him once.
 Observe and Report / int_3d699462
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_3d699462
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1.0
 Observe and Report
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Observe and Report / int_3d699462
 Observe and Report / int_3f7a958b
type
Secret Test of Character
 Observe and Report / int_3f7a958b
comment
Secret Test of Character: What Ronnie believes being left at "the crossroads" was.
 Observe and Report / int_3f7a958b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_3f7a958b
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1.0
 Observe and Report
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Observe and Report / int_3f7a958b
 Observe and Report / int_4160410d
type
Damsel in Distress
 Observe and Report / int_4160410d
comment
Damsel in Distress: What Ronnie considers Brandi. Nell is also in need of some manly backup.
 Observe and Report / int_4160410d
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1.0
 Observe and Report / int_4160410d
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1.0
 Observe and Report
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Observe and Report / int_4160410d
 Observe and Report / int_48b9731f
type
Paper-Thin Disguise
 Observe and Report / int_48b9731f
comment
Paper-Thin Disguise: Ronnie tries to go undercover to catch the flasher. No one is fooled.
 Observe and Report / int_48b9731f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_48b9731f
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1.0
 Observe and Report
hasFeature
Observe and Report / int_48b9731f
 Observe and Report / int_4c851777
type
Black Comedy Rape
 Observe and Report / int_4c851777
comment
Ronnie is a bipolar and delusional security guard who has sex with Brandi while she's blackout drunk, has violent fantasies, and wants to be a cop.
 Observe and Report / int_4c851777
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_4c851777
featureConfidence
1.0
 Observe and Report
hasFeature
Observe and Report / int_4c851777
 Observe and Report / int_50b05d30
type
Disproportionate Retribution
 Observe and Report / int_50b05d30
comment
Disproportionate Retribution: Ronnie shoots the flasher in the chest. Sure, he's a flasher, but gunfire is a bit much for such a petty criminal. He doesn't die and is duly arrested, though. Ronnie annoys Harrison for a day and in return Harrison leaves Ronnie to get murdered by drug dealers. Ronnie might be a jerk and a hindrance, but Det. Harrison going out of his way to personally inform Ronnie that he failed the psychological test to become a police officer and the enjoyment he got from seeing Ronnie's dream crushed was just cruel. One of his fellow pranksters even calls him on it, saying it's "just sad."
 Observe and Report / int_50b05d30
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 Observe and Report / int_50b05d30
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 Observe and Report
hasFeature
Observe and Report / int_50b05d30
 Observe and Report / int_70351b6c
type
No Medication for Me
 Observe and Report / int_70351b6c
comment
No Medication for Me: Ronnie abruptly decides to go off his meds.
 Observe and Report / int_70351b6c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_70351b6c
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1.0
 Observe and Report
hasFeature
Observe and Report / int_70351b6c
 Observe and Report / int_7276d0de
type
Mugging the Monster
 Observe and Report / int_7276d0de
comment
Mugging the Monster: Some drug dealers try to victimize Ronnie when he's dropped off in their hood. Even the audience doesn't realize how crazy violent he is until this point.
 Observe and Report / int_7276d0de
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_7276d0de
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1.0
 Observe and Report
hasFeature
Observe and Report / int_7276d0de
 Observe and Report / int_7a3bd18
type
MusicalusInterruptus
 Observe and Report / int_7a3bd18
comment
Musicalus Interruptus: The movie has a strange habit of playing loud music over a scene, and then immediately cut to the next scene with the music suddenly stopping (often times with loud dialogue in the next scene). It comes to a head when Ronnie shoots the flasher, and a cover version of The Pixies' "Where Is My Mind?" suddenly stops with no scene transition.
 Observe and Report / int_7a3bd18
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_7a3bd18
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1.0
 Observe and Report
hasFeature
Observe and Report / int_7a3bd18
 Observe and Report / int_7ef70048
type
Big Bad Friend
 Observe and Report / int_7ef70048
comment
Dennis, Ronnie's colleague, is a Big Bad Friend who persuades Ronnie to take drugs and to assault skateboarders, revealing that he's also the person who's been stealing from the mall.
 Observe and Report / int_7ef70048
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_7ef70048
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1.0
 Observe and Report
hasFeature
Observe and Report / int_7ef70048
 Observe and Report / int_8767b1f3
type
Black-and-Gray Morality
 Observe and Report / int_8767b1f3
comment
Black-and-Gray Morality: Nearly to Evil vs. Evil levels. Ronnie is a seriously disturbed man who should not be anywhere near a gun, but he does legitimately want to be a good guy. In the meantime, he's fighting against a serial flasher.
 Observe and Report / int_8767b1f3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_8767b1f3
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1.0
 Observe and Report
hasFeature
Observe and Report / int_8767b1f3
 Observe and Report / int_898ff050
type
Villain Protagonist
 Observe and Report / int_898ff050
comment
Or what if Paul Blart was a borderline Villain Protagonist?
 Observe and Report / int_898ff050
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_898ff050
featureConfidence
1.0
 Observe and Report
hasFeature
Observe and Report / int_898ff050
 Observe and Report / int_8b68d9a7
type
Stalker with a Crush
 Observe and Report / int_8b68d9a7
comment
Stalker with a Crush: Ronnie to Brandi.
 Observe and Report / int_8b68d9a7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_8b68d9a7
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1.0
 Observe and Report
hasFeature
Observe and Report / int_8b68d9a7
 Observe and Report / int_95b7c400
type
Faux Affably Evil
 Observe and Report / int_95b7c400
comment
Faux Affably Evil: Dennis seems to be a quiet-natured and supportive friend who genuinely believes he can help Ronnie... by getting him to steal, beat up kids and take heroin. Even after betraying Ronnie, he sends a friendly postcard.
 Observe and Report / int_95b7c400
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_95b7c400
featureConfidence
1.0
 Observe and Report
hasFeature
Observe and Report / int_95b7c400
 Observe and Report / int_97ee273
type
Momma's Boy
 Observe and Report / int_97ee273
comment
Momma's Boy: Ronnie. Never really explained whether he lives with his mom or she with him.
 Observe and Report / int_97ee273
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_97ee273
featureConfidence
1.0
 Observe and Report
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Observe and Report / int_97ee273
 Observe and Report / int_a70223
type
Karma Houdini
 Observe and Report / int_a70223
comment
Karma Houdini: Much like in Taxi Driver, Ronnie narrowly escapes punishment for his crimes by managing to become a hero at the last minute. Also, Dennis robs the mall frequently, gets Ronnie to beat kids for skateboarding on mall property, and ends up knocking Ronnie out and stealing a car to flee. The last we hear of him has him partying in Mexico.
 Observe and Report / int_a70223
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_a70223
featureConfidence
1.0
 Observe and Report
hasFeature
Observe and Report / int_a70223
 Observe and Report / int_acf33d00
type
Nice Job Fixing It, Villain
 Observe and Report / int_acf33d00
comment
Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: Even if you don't consider Ronnie to be a good guy, what he does to Nell's boss and coworker qualifies as "two wrongs making a right".
 Observe and Report / int_acf33d00
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1.0
 Observe and Report / int_acf33d00
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1.0
 Observe and Report
hasFeature
Observe and Report / int_acf33d00
 Observe and Report / int_b4a6ae4c
type
Everyone Has Standards
 Observe and Report / int_b4a6ae4c
comment
Everyone Has Standards: Ronnie is by no means a good person but even he draws the line in making fun of the handicapped. Him intimidating Nell's boss because he was bullying her was Ronnie's rare hero moment.
 Observe and Report / int_b4a6ae4c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_b4a6ae4c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Observe and Report
hasFeature
Observe and Report / int_b4a6ae4c
 Observe and Report / int_bbfaa837
type
Knight Templar
 Observe and Report / int_bbfaa837
comment
Knight Templar: Ronnie takes his job a little too seriously.
 Observe and Report / int_bbfaa837
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_bbfaa837
featureConfidence
1.0
 Observe and Report
hasFeature
Observe and Report / int_bbfaa837
 Observe and Report / int_c75df49a
type
Shout-Out
 Observe and Report / int_c75df49a
comment
Shout-Out: Ronnie's brawl with the police is choreographed like the football-themed brawl in Flash Gordon, and features the same music.
 Observe and Report / int_c75df49a
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1.0
 Observe and Report / int_c75df49a
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1.0
 Observe and Report
hasFeature
Observe and Report / int_c75df49a
 Observe and Report / int_caa28b82
type
Cloudcuckoolander
 Observe and Report / int_caa28b82
comment
Cloudcuckoolander: Deconstructed as sane people consider Ronnie a delusional person and try to avoid him for it.
 Observe and Report / int_caa28b82
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_caa28b82
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1.0
 Observe and Report
hasFeature
Observe and Report / int_caa28b82
 Observe and Report / int_ce2969d8
type
Spiritual Antithesis
 Observe and Report / int_ce2969d8
comment
Spiritual Antithesis: The film can be served as a deconstruction of Paul Blart: Mall Cop. If Blart wasn't a lovable schlub but a delusional sociopath.
 Observe and Report / int_ce2969d8
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1.0
 Observe and Report / int_ce2969d8
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1.0
 Observe and Report
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Observe and Report / int_ce2969d8
 Observe and Report / int_cfc55f21
type
Heroic Wannabe
 Observe and Report / int_cfc55f21
comment
Heroic Wannabe: Ronnie himself wants to do just about anything to be a heroic cop.
 Observe and Report / int_cfc55f21
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_cfc55f21
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1.0
 Observe and Report
hasFeature
Observe and Report / int_cfc55f21
 Observe and Report / int_d2d4f0c6
type
Power Fantasy
 Observe and Report / int_d2d4f0c6
comment
Power Fantasy: As part of his psych eval, the assigned case worker asks Ronnie — who's already admitted to having unmedicated bipolar disorder and wanting to "destroy some motherfuckers" — why he wants to be a police officer. Ronnie tells her that, "most nights", he has a recurring dream where a evil black cloud made of cancer sweeps over an idyllic playground and begins hurting all the children, until Ronnie steps up with a giant shotgun and starts doing "God's work" by indiscriminately blowing it away; afterwards, a grateful world gathers at his feet, looks up, and thanks him, to which he humbly responds that it's just his duty as a cop. Ronnie seems to think that this is inspiring, instead of a sign that he's a psychotic and potentially dangerous man with a hero complex, who shouldn't be anywhere near a gun or a position of authority.
 Observe and Report / int_d2d4f0c6
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1.0
 Observe and Report / int_d2d4f0c6
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1.0
 Observe and Report
hasFeature
Observe and Report / int_d2d4f0c6
 Observe and Report / int_d6519b1b
type
Rabid Cop
 Observe and Report / int_d6519b1b
comment
Rabid Cop: Ronnie is a very violent and delusional mall cop.
 Observe and Report / int_d6519b1b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_d6519b1b
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1.0
 Observe and Report
hasFeature
Observe and Report / int_d6519b1b
 Observe and Report / int_e016e53f
type
Throwing Off the Disability
 Observe and Report / int_e016e53f
comment
Throwing Off the Disability: Nell, towards the end, though she was never truly disabled; she was just recovering from surgery.
 Observe and Report / int_e016e53f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_e016e53f
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 Observe and Report
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Observe and Report / int_e016e53f
 Observe and Report / int_e11720f9
type
Stood Up
 Observe and Report / int_e11720f9
comment
Stood Up: What Brandi tried to do to Ronnie. Subverted when he waits outside her house for hours until she arrives and convinces her to still go out with him.
 Observe and Report / int_e11720f9
featureApplicability
-0.3
 Observe and Report / int_e11720f9
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1.0
 Observe and Report
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Observe and Report / int_e11720f9
 Observe and Report / int_e6cca0
type
The Mall
 Observe and Report / int_e6cca0
comment
The Mall: Where Ronnie is the head of security.
 Observe and Report / int_e6cca0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_e6cca0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Observe and Report
hasFeature
Observe and Report / int_e6cca0
 Observe and Report / int_eb251937
type
Dirty Cop
 Observe and Report / int_eb251937
comment
Dirty Cop: Harrison falls into this by leaving Ronnie to die in the worst part of town just because he personally disliked him. He also has sex with Brandi, one of the flasher's victims. Dennis, Ronnie's fellow mall cop, encourages Ronnie to beat up children and take drugs, while also stealing from the mall.
 Observe and Report / int_eb251937
featureApplicability
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 Observe and Report / int_eb251937
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 Observe and Report
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Observe and Report / int_eb251937
 Observe and Report / int_eb8ec7c8
type
Jerkass
 Observe and Report / int_eb8ec7c8
comment
Jerkass: Ronnie, Brandi and Harrison are all real jerks. In particular, Saddamn (see quote above in Cluster F-Bomb).
 Observe and Report / int_eb8ec7c8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_eb8ec7c8
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1.0
 Observe and Report
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Observe and Report / int_eb8ec7c8
 Observe and Report / int_f26d5e66
type
Brainless Beauty
 Observe and Report / int_f26d5e66
comment
Brainless Beauty: Brandi.
 Observe and Report / int_f26d5e66
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1.0
 Observe and Report / int_f26d5e66
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1.0
 Observe and Report
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Observe and Report / int_f26d5e66
 Observe and Report / int_f6f2ff1
type
Insult Backfire
 Observe and Report / int_f6f2ff1
comment
Insult Backfire: When Ronnie calls Brandi out on her promiscuous ways after she thanks him for rescuing her from the flasher. Just watch her reaction when Ronnie points her out as one who will stab you in the back by screwing your enemies.
 Observe and Report / int_f6f2ff1
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_f6f2ff1
featureConfidence
1.0
 Observe and Report
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Observe and Report / int_f6f2ff1
 Observe and Report / int_fdb3b2b5
type
Lady Drunk
 Observe and Report / int_fdb3b2b5
comment
Lady Drunk: Ronnie's mom.
 Observe and Report / int_fdb3b2b5
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_fdb3b2b5
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1.0
 Observe and Report
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Observe and Report / int_fdb3b2b5
 Observe and Report / int_fe43238f
type
Backup Twin
 Observe and Report / int_fe43238f
comment
Back Up Twin: Discussed. "If one of you died, God sent me another."
 Observe and Report / int_fe43238f
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1.0
 Observe and Report / int_fe43238f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Observe and Report
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Observe and Report / int_fe43238f
 Observe and Report / int_ff7f34c5
type
Pet the Dog
 Observe and Report / int_ff7f34c5
comment
Pet the Dog: Ronnie's interactions with Nell managed to bring out a human side of him.
 Observe and Report / int_ff7f34c5
featureApplicability
1.0
 Observe and Report / int_ff7f34c5
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 Observe and Report
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Observe and Report / int_ff7f34c5
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ItemName
 Observe and Report / int_name
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Observe and Report

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

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sameAs
Observe and Report
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hasFeature
Back-to-Back Poster / int_bc1933a9
 Observe and Report
hasFeature
*Crack!* "Oh, My Back!" / int_bc1933a9
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No Medication for Me / int_bc1933a9
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Questionable Consent / int_bc1933a9
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Review Ironic Echo / int_bc1933a9
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Schlubby, Scummy Security Guard / int_bc1933a9
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The Danza / int_bc1933a9