Dads v aliens

The Watch (12A) film review Rating:*
In Britain, Neighbourhood Watch risks being stereotyped as nosy old busybodies, making notes behind net curtains of minor indiscretions by their friends and other local residents, which is nonsense of course.
In America, however, there is a different approach. There, apart from the occasional unfortunate incidence of Neighbourhood Watch members shooting other people, they are stereotyped in The Watch as being like Ben Stiller (The Fockers) and Vince Vaughn (Wedding Crashers), who find aliens in their local Costco warehouse, planning an Earth invasion.
Written by Seth Rogen, The Watch casts Stiller as Evan, manager of the Costco, whose nightwatchman is killed and flayed by aliens, who then dress up in his skin to walk among us. He sets up a Neighbourhood Watch, attracting local loonies Bob (Vaughn), Franklin (Jonah Hill) and Jamarcus (Richard Ayoade).
They encounter other strange neighbours, including one Manfred, a wonderfully abusive old gent, played by R. Lee Emery, better known as the insult ad-libbing drill sergeant star in Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket.
This being America, the crew are unable to simply deal with the invasion. They have to deal with “issues” along the way (manhood, parenting, honesty and so forth), as well as the real threat using an arsenal of weaponry.
When we make a film in Britain about alien invasions, we call it “Attack the Block”, get some brilliant first-time actors and make a cracking little film. In America, they use heavyweight stars to try and boost a flaccid story with piles of swearing, lots of smut and soppy sentimentality.
Critics have called it “offensive” and “disposable”, but then it has almost made a profit in its opening few weeks, so what do they know?
If you admire Messrs Stiller and Vaughn, like your comedy gross-out, are pleased by a host of product placements and don’t mind a story that is silly and patronising, then The Watch is the film for you.
However, if you like alien invasion stories with a bit of grit and played out by quality acting, Attack the Block is still available to view.
Running time 102 minutes