Let's be real for a second. When you think of cinematic masterpieces, a sequel about a segway-riding security guard probably isn't the first thing that pops into your head. But there is something weirdly comforting about Kevin James' brand of physical comedy. It's like comfort food—not necessarily high art, but it hits the spot when you just want to turn your brain off for 90 minutes. The paul blart mall cop 2 cast is actually a fascinating mix of Happy Madison regulars and some surprisingly heavy hitters who seem to be having the time of their lives in the Nevada sun.
The Man, The Legend: Kevin James as Paul Blart
The whole thing rests on Kevin James. Honestly, without his willingness to throw his body into a wall or take a punch from a decorative bird, this movie wouldn't exist. He’s playing the same Paul we met years ago, but he’s a bit more beaten down this time. His wife left him after six days (rough), and his mom was taken out by a milk truck. It's a dark start for a comedy!
But the heart of the paul blart mall cop 2 cast has always been the relationship between Paul and his daughter, Maya.
Raini Rodriguez returns as Maya Blart. She’s not the little kid from the first movie anymore; she's 20 and heading to UCLA. Watching her try to navigate her dad’s overprotectiveness while being scouted by David Henrie (playing Lane, the valet) is basically every "embarrassing dad" trope rolled into one. If you recognize David Henrie, it’s probably from Wizards of Waverly Place. He brings that Disney Channel charm that balances out the slapstick.
The New Faces in Vegas
When the action shifts to the Wynn Las Vegas, the cast expands in some pretty wild directions. You’ve got:
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- Neal McDonough as Vincent Sofel: This is the one that always catches people off guard. McDonough is a serious actor. You’ve seen him in Band of Brothers and Justified. Seeing him play a high-stakes art thief who is eventually defeated by an oatmeal-infused concealer is... well, it's something. He plays it straight, which makes the absurdity work.
- Daniella Alonso as Divina Martinez: She plays the general manager of the Wynn. Paul is immediately smitten, because of course he is. Alonso has to do a lot of the heavy lifting as the "straight man" to James' antics.
- Eduardo Verástegui as Eduardo Furtillo: The head of hotel security. He’s the foil to Blart’s "mall cop" energy—sleek, professional, and slightly condescending.
Why the Paul Blart Mall Cop 2 Cast Included So Many Comedians
If you look at the secondary security guards, it's basically a "who's who" of stand-up comedy and character actors. This was a smart move. When you have a script that relies on situational humor, you need people who can riff.
Gary Valentine plays Saul Gundermutt. If you think they look like they could be related, you're right—he’s Kevin James’ real-life brother. They’ve worked together on King of Queens for years, and that chemistry is obvious. Then you have Loni Love as Donna Ericone. She brings a specific energy that the first movie was kind of missing. She’s tough, funny, and honestly feels like she could actually handle a real security situation better than Blart.
Nicholas Turturro and Vic DiBitetto round out the squad as Nick Panero and Gino Chizetti. It’s a loud, chaotic group. Most of the filming happened right there at the Wynn, which was actually the first time Steve Wynn allowed a commercial film to shoot on the property. You can tell the cast was enjoying the location.
Small Roles and Fun Cameos
Keep your eyes peeled and you'll spot some familiar faces in the background. Bas Rutten, the legendary MMA fighter, shows up as Henk. He worked with James in Here Comes the Boom, and he’s clearly a favorite in the Happy Madison circle.
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Ana Gasteyer (from SNL) plays Mrs. Gundermutt. It’s a small role, but she makes it memorable. Even Shirley Knight returned briefly as Paul's mom before the milk truck incident. It’s these little connections that keep the sequel feeling like it belongs in the same universe as the original.
The Production Behind the Scenes
The movie had a budget of around $38 million. It’s rumored that Kevin James actually took a pay cut to make sure the production could happen. That tells you something about how much he cares about this character.
The film also made history in a weird way by being the first to receive Nevada's film tax credit. They got about $4.3 million back for filming in Vegas. For a movie that critics didn't exactly love, it did pretty well for itself, grossing over $107 million worldwide. People clearly still wanted to see Blart trip over things.
Fact-Checking Common Misconceptions
People often ask if Jayma Mays (the love interest from the first movie) is in the sequel. Short answer: No. Her character, Amy, is written out almost immediately. The movie explains that she divorced Paul after just six days of marriage. It's a bit of a "reset" for the character so he can be the underdog hero again.
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Another thing—fans often confuse the hotel. While some interior shots were done at the Fashion Show Mall, the vast majority of the "Security Officer Convention" takes place at the Wynn. It wasn't filmed at the Mall of America, even though Kevin James once mentioned he liked that idea.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're planning a rewatch of Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2, keep these things in mind to get more out of it:
- Watch the Background: Many of the "security guards" in the convention scenes are played by actual stand-up comics who are friends with Kevin James.
- Look for the Chemistry: Notice the scenes between Gary Valentine and Kevin James. Since they're brothers, their timing is much more natural than most of the other pairings.
- Appreciate the Stunts: Even though it's a comedy, the stunt work—especially with the segways and the fight scenes in the art gallery—is surprisingly well-choreographed.
- The Soundtrack Factor: Rupert Gregson-Williams did the score. He’s the same guy who did Wonder Woman and Aquaman. It’s way more "epic" than a mall cop movie probably deserves, and that's the joke.
The paul blart mall cop 2 cast might not be winning Oscars any time soon, but they delivered exactly what the audience wanted: a silly, earnest, and physically demanding comedy that doesn't take itself too seriously. Whether you love it or hate it, you have to admit the casting department knew exactly who would fit in this neon-soaked Vegas heist.
To get the full experience, try watching the first film and the sequel back-to-back to see how the character of Maya evolves. It's the most consistent emotional thread in the series.