The Watch

The Watch isn't a bad film, but it isn't what it secretly yearns to be.   What it really wants to be is "Ghostbusters," but it is in tone a bit too mean spirited for that.  Tone is always a bugger when writing a film.  It is just one of those things that is a magical combination of actor, director and script that really can't be predicted.  Sure there's a lot of snark in "Ghostbusters," but when Bill Murray did snark (at least at that point in his career) there was a twinkle in his eye that made us forgive him totally.  There is no such twinkle in Ben Stiller's eye (no doubt killed by Focker movies) nor Vince Vaughn who I believe was born without a soul.

The story is simple.  A naive little town is being invaded by the most generic aliens not imagined.  Ben Stiller is a go getter and club maker so after the first mysterious death it's only natural he starts a neighborhood watch program.  The only takers are a bunch of losers who use it as sort of a man's club slash macho tester.  Everything else is basically clockwork. 

Now this isn't a bad film, it's just two shades above bland film.  You can watch.  You can smile here and there, and then forget it.  Definitely forget it.