The Watch: Summer Fluff

Got out last night to see a couple of new movies...and The Watch was by far the better movie of the night.  Sadly this isn't saying much.

The cast is rock solid: Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill, and Richard Ayoade, make up the members of the watch team.

The plot is a little out there:
Stiller, the manager of the local Costco and his quirky band of co-stars form a community watch club to help protect their small suburban community from the individual who murdered one of Stiller's employees.  The local police have no leads, and are incredibly inept.

What they don't know is that the murder was committed by a ravening alien, one of many who recently crash landed in their quiet home town, and who are now stealing their victims skins in order blend into the local population.

Keep in mind that this film is a comedy.  Despite the blood and gore, the cast ensure that things never get too dark.  Most of the comedy in the piece can be found in the relationships and interactions of the Watch members. Stiller, Vaughn, Hill, and Ayoade turn in fun, fresh performances that keep the movie light-hearted and fun.

Vaughn's struggles with his hot to trot teenage daughter, and Hill's short scene with his mother top the list for scenes that ring with everyday truth, and genuine comedy.

They also attempt to inject some heart into the film through Stiller's strained relationship with his wife, a sub-plot that feels a little strained throughout.

Comic Highlights:
Ayoade's speech concerning his reasons for joining the watch.
Hill's lovable militant misfit's storming into his own home to secure a hidden weapons cache.
Vaughn and Hill spying on Vaughn's daughter at an oversexed teenage pool party.
Stiller and Ayoade invading a suspected Alien hive in the basement of Stiller's neighbours home.

The mandatory double-tap scene featured in the previews is also pretty funny, but certainly not unexpected.

For a piece of Summer fluff, on a cheap night, it was worth the price, but generally speaking The Watch is a solid rental.