THE WATCH | FAMILY MOVIE REVIEW INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND KIDS

"THE WATCH"
(2012) (Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn) (R)

QUICK TAKE:: Sci-fi Comedy: Four suburban homeowners form a neighborhood watch when their small town comes under attack by aliens.

PLOT:

Evan (BEN STILLER) is a suburban homeowner and husband who manages the local Costco. One morning, he shows up to work and learns that one of his favorite employees, night watchman Antonio (JOE NUNEZ), was horrifically killed and skinned the night before while on duty. When Sgt. Bressman (WILL FORTE), the local cop assigned to case, shows an almost complete lack of caring, Evan takes it upon himself to solve the murder.

He decides to form a Neighborhood Watch and recruits such neighbors as fun-loving Bob (VINCE VAUGHN), who's having problems with his rebellious teenage daughter Chelsea (ERIN MORIARITY); Franklin (JONAH HILL), whose dreams of becoming a cop were crushed and who now lives at home with his mom; and Jamarcus (RICHARD AYOADE), a British man looking to get more involved in his community. In addition to running afoul of Bressman and a local gun nut named Manfred (R. LEE ERMEY), Evan is having intimacy problems with his patient wife, Abby (ROSEMARY DeWITT), and won't admit to her that he is sterile. Meanwhile, Bob is having a hard time with Jason (NICHOLAS BRAUN), Chelsea's bullying boyfriend.

Matters are made worse when Evan and the Watch discover that their small town is ground zero for an impending alien invasion. The armada is poised to strike Earth, but only if the local alien creatures can get a communications array to work -- the one they're building inside Evan's Costco store.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: Older teens may have some interest.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R: For some strong sexual content including references, pervasive language, and violent images.

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