The Watch is a 2012 science fiction comedy film directed by Akiva Schaffer and written by Jared Stern, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. It stars Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill and Richard Ayoade. The film a group of neighbors who form a suburban neighborhood watch group. When they uncover an alien plot threatening the world, they are forced into action.

In a small town in Ohio a night security guard at the local CostCo is brutally murdered by an unseen creature. The local police have no leads, and show no interest in investigating further. Determined to find the killer and bring him to justice, the manager Evan decides to form a neighborhood watch. However, he only manages to recruit Bob (Vince Vaughn), a construction worker and loving father; Franklin (Jonah Hill), a high school dropout who dreams of being a police officer but failed the written, physical, and mental-health tests; and Jamarcus (Richard Ayoade), a recent divorcé. To Evan’s annoyance only he is taking it seriously while the other three use the watch as an excuse to drink and make jokes. While driving on patrol, they accidentally hit something. They discover a strange metallic orb that acts as a highly-destructive weapon, and deduce that it is of alien origin. Meanwhile, several more townspeople are mysteriously killed.

The watch responds to the murders and encounters an alien, which attacks them. Evan (apparently) kills it with a lawn gnome before the group returns with the creature to Bob’s house. The creature regains consciousness and escapes, stealing the metallic orb and warning them that the aliens have already infiltrated the town. They realize that the aliens are killing humans and stealing their skins to blend in. Realizing that anyone in Glenview could be an alien. Bob confides to Evan that he is worried about his daughter Chelsea, and does not trust her boyfriend Jason. Evan admits that he has been avoiding his wife Abby because he is infertile, and revealing that to her may cause her to leave. Evan also suspects his creepy new neighbour of being one of the aliens, mainly due to the stiff way he speaks because he always seems to be watching him. As the watch scouts the neighbor’s house, Bob learns that Chelsea is at an unsupervised party with Jason. Bob disobeys Evan’s orders, and rushes to the party with Franklin. Bob prevents Jason from raping Chelsea, but Jason beats him until Franklin intervenes.

Evan and Jamarcus investigate the odd neighbor alone, discovering that he (only) hosts orgies in his basement. When Bob returns, he and Evan argue over his putting his daughter above the watch. Evan and Bob argue and Bob is made to leave the group. Evan goes home and admits his infertility to Abby, who accepts the news and tells him they will work things out. Jamarcus comes to Evan and admits that he is actually one of the aliens but has changed his mind and sides with the humans after experiencing human culture and his first orgy. He warns the group that the aliens are building a transmitter (beneath the Costco store) which will summon their armada to destroy the earth, and is expelled from the watch for his deception. Bob, Franklin, Evan and Abby arm themselves and infiltrate the Costco to destroy the transmitter. Bob encounters Jason who reveals that he is also an alien, and they fight. Evan and Franklin attempt to disable the transmitter, but are surrounded by aliens.

Jamarcus arrives and saves the pair, revealing that the aliens’ brains are located in their crotch; Bob kills Jason by ripping off his penis. Evan discovers that the transmitter is powered by the metallic orb and removes it, disabling the machine. More aliens arrive, forcing the group to flee. The watch uses the metallic orb to destroy the Costco building, killing all of the aliens inside. As the movie ends Evan and Abby adopt a young girl, Bob is closer to Chelsea, Franklin is accepted to the police force and Jamarcus continues participating in the secret neighborhood orgies. The group maintains the watch, continuing to protect Glenview from criminals (and aliens).

Funny and silly in typical Stiller fashion, I enjoyed the film and thought it was a good time waster. I was watching this movie on a cold Thursday in Gurgaon after breakfast and while waiting for the time to get ready and go to the airport. I give it a solid 7 outta 10 for entertainment!