The Watch: Finally a funny trailer

The title of the upcoming Ben Stiller comedy, The Watch, used to be Neighborhood Watch until the Florida shooting death of Trayvon Martin at the hands of a neighbourhood watch volunteer. (BTW, the police chief responsible for the initial investigation has just been fired).

Anytoomuchactualinformation, changing the name didn’t do any favours to the movie, because what the frak is The Watch? Is it a movie about a magical timepiece propelling a group of misfit children through a series of other-worldly adventures? Is it a film about the surly proprietor of a clock store who learns a little bit about the meaning of time and how we need to stop wasting it? Or is it a raunchy, R-rated romp about an awkward teen who learns some life skills from peeping at all neighbourhood housewives?

The trailers that have been released so far haven’t done the comedy any favours either. Boring. But, guess what? This one we like.

The Watch opens July 27. It stars Jonah Hill, Vince Vaughn, Richard Ayoade and Will Forte.

Malene Arpe, Toronto Star