The film kicks off with scenes of a bustling mall, shifting to the parking lot where a man in a trench coat provocatively maneuvers among women. Ronnie (Seth Rogen), a mall security chief, chastises two Asian twin security guards, insisting they’ve tarnished his reputation. Another guard, Dennis (Michael Pena), supports Ronnie by stating that they hurt him, and no one should do so. Ronnie brushes off the issue.
In a subsequent scene outside the mall, a reporter interviews Ronnie. When she mistakenly labels him as just a security guard, he cuts her off, insisting he’s the head of mall security, and humorously questions her professionalism.
Meanwhile, we meet Brandi (Anna Faris), a makeup counter employee. Ronnie, charmed by her laughter with her friend Bruce, approaches her. His attempt to engage in conversation falls flat when she seems disinterested, even after sharing a bizarre story about a pervert in the parking lot, which she brushes off.
The plot thickens as Ronnie and the Yuan twins demonstrate their shooting prowess at a gun range, lamenting their inability to carry weapons as security in a mall. Instead, they're limited to tasers and mace, underscoring their frustration.
At home, Ronnie shares a touching moment with his inebriated mother, who expresses pride in his actions while he harbors conflicted feelings about the pervert potentially providing him with a chance at greatness. After a rough night waking up to his mother collapsing, he covers her with a blanket, demonstrating his care.
The next day, at the food court, he encounters Nell (Collette Wolfe), a new worker who is battling injury. Their conversation reveals Ronnie’s commitment to mall safety, particularly concerning the lurking pervert. Brandi finds herself menaced by the pervert later that day, an encounter that sends her into shock and leads to Ronnie carrying her to safety, marking his protective instinct.
A stern detective, Ray Liotta (name not linked due to missing cast details), steps in to speak with Brandi, further complicating Ronnie's aspirations to protect her. Consumed with the need to catch the pervert, Ronnie organizes a meeting with the other guards, declaring that reports should only go through him. Tensions escalate when a theft occurs at the mall, leading to more chaos and misunderstandings, particularly between Ronnie and the detective.
Determined to become a police officer, Ronnie applies but faces rejection after an unsettling psychological evaluation. Frustrated yet undeterred, he seeks redemption through unorthodox methods, including confronting his personal demons and engaging with the criminal elements around him.
As Ronnie navigates his tumultuous life—filled with failed dates, awkward encounters with Brandi, and frayed relationships—he finds himself in increasingly precarious situations. However, with every misstep, his determination to catch the pervert leads him on a winding path of redemption.
The climax unfolds when Ronnie, after an emotional rollercoaster, realizes that the only way to truly make things right is by putting himself on the line. The story wraps up with a chaotic but triumphant showdown that restores a semblance of order to his life and culminates in a surprising turn of romantic fortune with Nell.
Ultimately, he learns that the road to redemption is fraught with mishaps, yet amidst the chaos, a sense of personal growth and unexpected connections bloom, illustrating that sometimes the most significant battles can be fought in the most unconventional ways.
