Bob's Quick Look: The Watch (2012)

Ben Stiller plays an ordinary (okay, boring) guy in small town Ohio. He manages the local Costco, is the founder of several local clubs, and is actively trying to start a family. This al;l changes when the night security guard of Costco is found murdered. When the police show no interest in finding the killer, Evan organizes a neighborhood watch to patrol the streets and find his friend’s killer. Joining him for the duty is Jonah Hill, Vince Vaughn, and Richard Ayoade. During their investigation/patrol/beer drinking, they learn that the killer in question was an alien from outer space, and what was once a job of neighborhood security becomes a mission to save the world from an extra terrestrial invasion.

*Spoiler Alert* This is a pretty good summer comedy. In other words, it is a nice escape from superheroes, family cgi adventures, and science fiction action flicks (even though the movie concerns an alien invasion.) The four leads in this movie do a good job bringing their characters to life, and have an excellent on screen chemistry from beginning to end. I also like how each of them have a backstory that feeds into their motivation throughout the story. Evan is a perfectionist who is having trouble having children and he cannot confide in his wife that he is sterile. Bob (Vaughn) is dealing with being the parent of a teenage girl, and Franklin (Hill) is finding his role in adulthood after being rejected by the police department. Jamarcus’s (Aroade) backstory does not come til later when he reveals that he is one of the aliens who has come to like humans for their potential, which was a surprise twist that I should have seen coming, but did not. Bravo director Schaffer.
The R rating is for adult language, crude sexual humor and violent content. This one is definitely not for the kids. But the humor is well executed and succeeded in keeping the audience (including me) laughing hard. The special effects, while kept to a minimum, were well executed and lavish on the big screen. I recommend this one for a night away from family style summer fun.

Interesting note: This movie was originally titled “Neighborhood Watch” but was changed due to sensitivity over the Trayvon Martin shooting in Florida.