
An anonymous flasher (Randy Gambill) exposes himself to shoppers in the Forest Ridge Mall parking lot. The head of mall security, Ronnie Barnhardt (Seth Rogen), makes it his mission to apprehend the offender. He is assisted by the Yuen twins (Matt and John Yuan), Charles (Jesse Plemons) and Dennis (Michael Peña) in his efforts. At home, Ronnie has a loving but dysfunctional relationship with his alcoholic mother (Celia Weston).
Ronnie’s dream girl, Brandi (Anna Faris) who works a mall make-up counter, is flashed the next day, becoming distraught over the situation. Ronnie tries to comfort her until a police officer, Detective Harrison (Ray Liotta), arrives and takes over Ronnie’s palliative role. Ronnie feels threatened by this and is upset that his boss allowed an outside person to infringe on his search for the offender.
The criminal activity at the mall continues, as a masked person is seen robbing a shoe store, causing property damage. Detective Harrison is once again called in to investigate, his efforts hindered by Ronnie’s unusual attempts to resolve the matter. In response, Harrison curses out Ronnie during a meeting with Ronnie’s superior. In defiance of the detectives angry rant, Ronnie decides to take the steps necessary to become a real police officer.
Ronnie obtains preliminary documents needed to become a police officer from a recruiting station, including forms for a physical and a psychological profile check, as well as entertaining the idea of a ride-along with a policeman on patrol. Ronnie decides to ride along with Detective Harrison. Harrison, fed up with Ronnie, tricks him into walking into the most dangerous part of town, and drives off. Ronnie then confronts and subsequently subdues several drug dealers, victoriously returning to the police station with a Dealers son and sarcastically thanking the detective for his help.
Emboldened, Ronnie arranges a date with Brandi, seeking advice from Nell (Collette Wolfe), a friendly food court worker, who recommends that he just be himself, which Ronnie declares as bad advice. That night, Brandi arrives home very late, forgetting the date. Undeterred, Ronnie still takes her out. She consumes much alcohol and Ronnie encourages her to ingest unknown pills. Ronnie takes her home and they engage in sexual intercourse, despite Brandi’s barely-conscious state.