Watch, The (11/13/2012)

Rated R for some strong sexual content including references, pervasive language and violent images.

Starring Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill and Richard Ayoade

Directed by Akiva Schaffer (Hot Rod)

Don’t Watch!

Four everyday suburban guys come together to form a neighborhood watch group, but only as an excuse to escape their humdrum lives one night a week. But when they accidentally discover that their town has become overrun with aliens posing as ordinary suburbanites, they have no choice but to save their neighborhood — and the world — from total extermination.

The Watch clearly falls into that category of films we only review to better equip youth leaders and parents. And believe me there is plenty to warn you about in this one.

Somewhere there was a pitch meeting, and I’m guessing in that meeting, The Watch sounded like a great idea. And why not? You have three proven veterans — Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn and Jonah Hill — in a comedy slated for release in the middle of summer blockbusters. Plus they added British comic Richard Ayoade for some off-beat seasoning?

The movie’s premise, by the way, sounds tempting, too: A group of mostly inept guys from a small Ohio town form a neighborhood watch patrol, only instead of fighting would-be felons, they wind up battling aliens. That still sounds like a good idea…but it’s not.

A few minutes into The Watch, you may realize that what might have seemed fool-proof has degraded into complete foolishness. The Watch is overly vulgar – which gets no laughs from me.

The supporting cast doesn’t bring much to the party, either. Billy Crudup, R. Lee Ermy, and Will Forte all are disappointing.

Instead of being ridiculously funny, The Watch is just ridiculous – It’s a “Coaster.”

SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
No, this movie is definitely way too inappropriate for teenagers.

There are a lot of inappropriate sex scenes like when the watchers stumble upon a neighborhood orgy. We see participants in various stages of undress (including a few topless women), some S&M gear and several battery-powered sex toys are shown. There is plenty more, but that should give you an idea of what to expect.

When it comes to violence, there is plenty, but most of it not to be taken seriously. However it is still too disturbing for younger viewers.

Then there is the profanity. There are about 70 F-Words and more than 40 S-Words, we also hear a–, d—, and h—…?add to that explicit rap music playing in the background. ??

CONVERSATION STARTER

1. What is something positive about the four “watchers”? (They are good friends.)


2. What are some things that happen that would make you say these guys do care about each other?


3. What are some things your friends have done for you that would show they care about you?


4. READ Proverbs 18:24
   
   One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
   
   What makes a friend “unreliable”?


5. What makes a friend reliable?


6. What are some things you can do this week with your friends to be more reliable?