Review

The Watch

  • Review Date: July 25, 2012
  • R
  • Genre: Comedy
  • 2012

Common Sense Media says

Aliens vs. potty-mouthed, sex-obsessed humans.
Age
16
Quality
 
  • Positive messages1
    Despite a lot of iffy behavior, the movie does have messages about teamwork and learning to communicate. Characters also show courage in the face of danger.
  • Positive role models2
    Evan is a responsible, brave member of his community, but he's also uptight and insecure. Happily, he learns to overcome some of these problems by trusting others.
  • Violence4
    A few human characters are slaughtered in an alien attack. Viewers see huge blood spatters, body parts, and mutilated corpses. There's lots of shooting -- both guns and extraterrestrial laser cannons -- though aliens take most of the hits (they ooze green blood). Also some hand-to-hand fighting (with injuries) and lots of arguing.
  • Sex4
    One scene takes place at an orgy. At least one woman is shown topless, several characters engage in simulated sex, and three men engage in mutual masturbation (shown from the chest up). A teen girl is shown making out with a teen boy, and they engage in some foreplay; she wants to stop but he insists on continuing -- then they're interrupted. The teen boy buys some large-size condoms. Porn magazines are glimpsed. The main character and his wife are trying to have a baby, and there are a few scenes of kissing and seduction, as well as much discussion about sperm. Sexual innuendo is very strong and constant.
  • Language5
    Language is strong and constant, with multiple uses of "f--k," "s--t," "p---y," "c--t," "ass," "a--hole," "c--k," "d--k," "c--ksucker," "goddamn," "hell," "damn," "prick," "vagina," "jizz," "hymen," "balls," and "jackass," plus uses of "oh my God," "Jesus," and "Jesus Christ" (as exclamations). There's some 1980s-era "gangster rap" on the soundtrack that also has strong language (including "motherf--ker").
  • Consumerism4
    The main character is a manager of Costco. Many scenes take place inside a Costco store, and the name is mentioned many times. Many other brands are mentioned and shown as well, often more than once, including Coca-Cola, Budweiser beer, Rayovac batteries, Magnum condoms, Bugles snacks, and Tide. Facebook is also shown and mentioned.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    A minor character celebrates inside a Costco, drinking hard liquor, smoking pot, and popping pills from a pharmacy. The main characters are almost constantly drinking, either beer or Scotch, but are never shown drunk. One of the main characters mentions possessing pot, but this isn't shown.
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that The Watch is a raunchy sci-fi comedy about four suburban guys (including Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, and Jonah Hill) who end up taking on an alien invasion. There's some blood and gore, as well as sci-fi shootouts. Expect lots of sexual content, including nudity (toplessness), an orgy scene, implied mutual masturbation, and rampant sexual innuendo. Language is equally strong and constant, with "f--k" and "s--t" both used frequently. Characters drink a lot, and some take drugs. Consumerism is also a big issue, as the movie feels like a huge ad for Costco. The movie made the news in February 2012, when its marketing campaign coincided with a fatal shooting in Florida by a real-life neighborhood watch captain. The movie's marketing and title (formerly Neighborhood Watch) were quickly changed.

This review of The Watch was written by
Age
17
Based on 5 parent & educator reviews:
  • 80% say violence is an issue
  • 80% say sexual content is an issue
  • 80% say language is an issue
  • 80% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking
  • 40% say they noticed product placement
Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

Teen, 17 years old
July 28, 2012
16
Not for kids & under
 
Awful.
Tries to be funny, but fails.
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Teen, 14 years old
July 30, 2012
18
Not for Kids
 
Amazing/Hillarious movie
This movie has tons of crude jokes and sexual scenes, as well as sick violence. There is a decent amount of blood and alien attacks. The language is very strong. Not al all for kids, but this is a great movie.
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Helped me decide (27) | Had useful details (34) | Read my mind (29)
Teen, 17 years old
July 29, 2012
16
OK for kids & up
 
A Teens Take on "The Watch"
It's ok. I went with a couple friends, and it was ok. I wouldn't take anyone who couldn't buy their own ticket, but if you're a parent you should know your kids. It's nothing that most guys haven't seen by about age 15, so it's not a huge deal, but it's not for younger teens to see. The plot is shallow, and it doesn't go deep into anything, but it's ok. If you've got a mature teen, then it's ok, if you don't, well then you might want to see a different movie.
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Adult
August 2, 2012
18
Not for Kids
 
Filth
This movie is a rotten piece of stinking filth.
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Parent
August 4, 2012
17
Not for kids & under
 
More trash from trashy writers.
If you've seen the previews then you've seen more then you need to see. Another typical film where writers don't have enough sense to write good material. They go for what they believe the average viewer enjoys. They haven't grown up enough to realize that most people don't want to hear this kind of language. Makes you wonder what kind of childhood they had. Didn't their parents ever teach them that foul language isn't proper? Apparently not. AND the audience they do get for this 'Turkey' are people you wouldn't want to associate with anyway.
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Helped me decide (27) | Had useful details (32) | Read my mind (26)
Kid, 12 years old
July 28, 2012
18
Not for Kids
 
The Watch
This was a really funny movie. There were a few filmmakers' mistakes. Like a guy said he was out of ammo and pulled some out of his pocket when the situation ended. There was a good amount of gore, but the main problem was the sex. A scene was about infertility, and there was some very descriptive talk. Another scene took place in an Orgy, and you saw a lot. The cussing was constant, worse than Ted and so were the drugs. This was a good movie that was funny, but there are better comedies out.
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Helped me decide (24) | Had useful details (24) | Read my mind (31)
Teen, 16 years old
August 8, 2012
15
OK for kids & up
 
The Watch (Formally called Neiborhood Watch)
Underwhelming comedy with great cast manages to be desent.
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Helped me decide (28) | Had useful details (20) | Read my mind (27)
Parent
August 18, 2012
18
Not for Kids
 
Worst Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn movie ever.
We only watched half an hour and left. The movie is horrible. Don't waste your time or money. We asked for our money back. The manager apologized and gave us a refund. Ben Stiller and Vince Vaughn should feel horrible about making such a bad movie. No way this makes any money.
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Kid, 12 years old
August 15, 2012
18
Not for Kids
 
This was soo funny
Jonah hill is the best
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Parent
August 15, 2012
16
Pause for kids & under
 
All star cast
Extremely funny wih an funny cast
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