This guy

has managed to bring in some 83 million dollars in the past three weeks. In light of the grim economic outlook January’s movie revenues are a surprise to the industry. North American ticket sales are up 20% compared to the same time last year and ‘Paul Blart: Mall Cop’ is a large part of that improved number. I hear security guards are none to pleased with the film, but America seems to be loving it. I’ll admit when I saw the trailer I was like “what in the segway riding mustachioed hell?!” But once I learned it was set in the dirty jerz I had to support it. 

Kudos to Kevin James. In step with Michael Cera he’s slowly changing the “leading man” stereotype and ‘King of Queens’ reruns are still hilarious.

It’s an odd day in my world when any Kevin James movie outsells a Clint Eastwood film. However, I’ve long since abandoned my efforts of trying to understand the human race.  Paul Blart:  Mall Cop made $33.8M and is on target to do a total of $40M over the four day weekend.  Even the president of worldwide distribution for Sony, Rory Bruer, is shocked; and that says something.  Bruer said, “We were hopeful we could do in the range of $25 million for four days and that would have been a terrific result for us. But now it looks like we’re going to do $40 million for four days, and that is just, like, a ‘wow’ number.” 

Eastwood’s Gran Torino dropped to second place with $22.8M and My Bloody Valentine opened up with $21.9M for third place.

The top ten movies for the weekend:

1. “Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” $33.8 million.

2. “Gran Torino,” $22.2 million.

3. “My Bloody Valentine 3-D,” $21.9 million.

4. “Notorious,” $21.5 million.

5. “Hotel for Dogs,” $17.7 million.

6. “Bride Wars,” $11.75 million.

7. “The Unborn,” $9.8 million.

8. “Defiance,” $9.2 million.

9. “Marley & Me,” $6.3 million.

10. “Slumdog Millionaire,” $5.9 million.

Kevin James poses with Essence Francher, 9, winner of the Deputy Mall Cop tryouts in Chicago yesterday.

It was a promotional event for unbelievably dumb movie Paul Blart: Mall Cop, which the studio actually has the gall to promote.

Here’s what I want to know: Were they handing out the Hitler mustaches at the event, or did this kid bring his own?