DVD
REVIEW: THE WATCH
11/11/12
SYNOPSIS:
Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill and Richard Ayoade take male bonding to hilarious new heights in this outrageous, no-holds-barred comedy that gets funnier every time you watch! There’s trouble brewing in peaceful Glenview, Ohio. That’s why four civic-minded citizens, armed with flashlights, walkie-talkies and spiffy new jackets, have teamed up to safeguard their community. But the guys find more than they bargained for when they uncover an alien plot to destroy Earth, and now these bumbling heroes are Glenview’s only chance to save the neighborhood — and the world — from annihilation.
FILM REVIEW: On paper, this movie would seem to be really good. Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill, and Richard Ayoade teaming up to do a comedy flick with a funny premise, gun play, and aliens; what can be better? Well that’s what I thought. The film will make you laugh a few times and it will entertain you enough but it’s not as good as it would seem on paper. My most important piece of advice regarding this movie is, if you decide to see it, don’t go into it with high expectations. Even though it’s got an interesting plot for a comedy (neighborhood watch vs. aliens), it seems like a cookie cutter comedy. Ben practically phoned in his role and Vince about half of his. Jonah was a little more tuned-in, and not-so-popular-on-the-big-screen Richard helped keep the movie afloat. There was too much corniness, predictability, and cliché. The story has so much potential but the comedy just didn’t seem that fresh. For example, a movie that comes to mind comparatively is Paul and that one is much funnier and overall better. It does have its share of raunchiness, WTF moments, and actor solos (moments in the film where it seems the director lets them each do their own little routine). It just wasn’t enough to take it to great comedy status. You know what I mean, there are okay comedies, good comedies, and great comedies. This one falls in the good category while I was expecting it to be a great comedy, or at least on paper it seemed so. Paper seems to be the theme of this review. But please, let’s save the trees.
The characters in this film were as diverse as you would hope. We have a control freak, a party animal, an airheaded militant police force reject, and a strange dude. Putting these guys together made for some good comedy, I must admit. Unfortunately, it’s difficult for the viewer to make a connection with any of them. By the way, the party animal character, played by Vince Vaughn, has one killer man cave. There was a particular character that caught me off guard mostly because of who was playing it. Billy Crudup plays a bizarre character unlike anything you could imagine him doing. And then there are the aliens who are grotesque enough and intimidating enough, but the best part about them, comically speaking of course, is their weakness. Of course I’m not going to tell you what it is . . . what were you thinking? Director Akiva Schaffer has done a lot of TV work both writing and directing, a good portion of which is for
SNL. This is his second major motion picture direction so hey, not bad. His first one was Hot Rod with Andy Samberg which was a very wacky comedy which I actually prefer over this one. But then again, I have a strange, open sense of humor. Regardless, I can still tell you to not expect too much out of this film.
Review
By Cine Marcos
cinemarcos@smartcine.com
DVD: The film is
presented in widescreen in a 2.35:1 aspect ration
preserving its theatrical format. The picture is just
flawless. Not only the picture looks great in
this release, also the sound it is good, a 5.1 Dolby Digital
in English, Spanish and French 5.1 Dolby Sorround that provides a
good complement to the picture. It also includes
English, and Spanish
subtitles.
VIDEO:
2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
AUDIO:
English
Spanish French 5.1 Dolby
Digital
Subtitles - English Spanish
SPECIAL FEATURES:
Deleted Scenes
Gag Reel
Alien Invasions & You
Casting the Alien
Theatrical Trailer
Sneak Peek
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