The Watch

The video presentation of "The Watch" on Blu-ray, boasting a 1080p/AVC encode, is impressive by any standard, testifying to the judicious use of its $68 million budget. Despite the film's comedic facade, it flourishes in a digital format that capitalizes on the adept use of Arri Alexa cameras, giving it a surprisingly filmic quality that enthusiasts will appreciate. This particular release excellently mimics the aesthetic of 35mm film grain through a fine layer of sensor noise—most notable in lower-light scenes—while steering clear of common pitfalls such as DNR (Digital Noise Reduction) or edge enhancement. The dual-layer 50 GB disc accommodates an encoding free from compression artifacts, a testament to its technical excellence. Enhanced by sharp, clear imagery, viewers can discern the minutiae of the actors' faces and the intricate details of the set design, contributing to a highly detailed viewing experience that remains faithful to the filmmakers' vision.

The Blu-ray's AVC-encoded transfer (aspect ratio 2.35:1) draws directly from a digital source, allowing for an exceptional visual clarity that shines throughout. Enhanced by Barry Peterson's cinematography, the picture benefits from an attractive, amber-warm color palette, with rich, bold primaries enriching every frame—characteristic of what one might expect from a high-caliber comedy. The transfer excels in rendering skin tones with lifelike accuracy and in revealing textural nuances, endowing characters and settings with an authentic feel. Daylight scenes dazzle with stunning clarity, while the transition to darker scenes is competently handled; black levels are clean and deep, adding a degree of depth during nighttime explorations, despite occasional moments where the image slightly loses its robustness.

Overall, "The Watch" presents a remarkable high-definition experience that rarely falters, whether in brightly lit exteriors or challenging low-light conditions. Contrast remains stable and balanced across the board, ensuring that no detail is lost in shadows or highlights—an accomplishment that speaks to the film's technical prowess. While a handful of scenes may exhibit minor sharpness variances and sporadic video noise, these are far from detracting from what is an unequivocally strong and engaging visual presentation. This Blu-ray showcases not just the comedic elements but also the unexpectedly polished aesthetic that supports them, making it a commendable addition for both fans of the genre and aficionados of filmic visual quality.

The Watch" graces its Blu-ray release with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track that, while might not redefine the audio experience for cinematic home theaters, impressively handles the elements it's furnished with. Venturing through the comedic landscape, the mix doesn't skimp on delivering a substantial punch during action scenes. Electrical discharges animate the rear channels with lifelike buzzes and arcs, while gunshots, the zip of an alien laser finding its trajectory, and the unsettling movements of extraterrestrials enhance the soundscape from multiple directions. Explosions carry a weight thanks to the subwoofer's effective involvement, ensuring that even in its louder moments, the track maintains a clean, balanced, and well-grounded audio presentation. In quieter moments, ambient sounds — from a bustling football stadium to the subtle din of suburban life — are deftly integrated, adding to the sense of environment without overshadowing dialogue, which remains crisp and forefront regardless of the on-screen chaos.

Central to the audio mix's success is its handling of dialogue — ensuring clarity and intelligibility throughout. This is complemented by Christophe Beck's score and an array of songs that span across the audio spectrum with clarity and dynamism, contributing to a broad and immersive soundstage without resorting to overbearing volume. The blend of acoustics and dynamics showcases a wide separation and range, effectively filling the room with audio that engages but doesn't overwhelm.

When the narrative escalates into more frenetic territory, complete with alien showdowns and their associated gooey messes, the surround channels come alive. The rear speakers actively engage to round off a surround sound experience that effectively captures both the vastness of outdoor confrontations and the intimacy of indoor banter. Despite this surround activity, low-frequency effects, though not ground-shaking, provide a solid foundation during action sequences. These elements coalesce into a lossless mix that doesn't just respect its comedy roots but enriches them with an audio presence that's equally fun and technically proficient. This audio track thus stands as a testament to how even comedies can benefit from meticulous sound design, delivering an experience that is as entertaining audibly as it is visually.

The Blu-ray release of "The Watch" distinguishes itself with a robust array of extras that are as entertaining, if not more so, than the film itself. The highlight is undoubtedly the twelve deleted and extended scenes, which add depth and hilarity, missing from the theatrical release. The gag reel offers a concise burst of laughter, promising more entertainment per minute than the film. Jonah Hill fans will be delighted by the alternate takes section, showcasing his range and improvisational skills with deranged ad-libs. The making-of featurette and the unique 'Casting the Alien' segment provide insightful and humorous behind-the-scenes looks. 'Alien Invasions and You' and the theatrical trailers round off the package, making it a must-have for fans and adding value for collectors.

Extras included in this disc:

• Deleted Scenes: An expansive collection showing a variety of cut content.
• Gag Reel: A quick, humor-filled compilation.
• Jonah Alternate Takes: A showcase of ad-libbed lines from Jonah Hill's character.
• Watchmakers: A traditional making-of segment with interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.
• Alien Invasions and You: Cast and crew's humorous take on handling alien invasions.
• Casting the Alien: A faux interview with the alien character.
• Theatrical Trailer: The original cinematic promotion.
• Sneak Peeks: Previews of upcoming attractions.

The Watch," a film embroiled in a concoction of sci-fi comedy and clumsy suburban satire, centers on an oddball group's vigilante efforts against an alien invasion, anchored in the unassuming locale of a Costco in suburban Ohio. The narrative plods along with a peculiar blend—incorporating the lewd humor characteristic of Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg's writing, juxtaposed against Akiva Schaffer’s dire attempt to weave these elements into a family-friendly tapestry. Despite the interesting premise likened to a "Ghostbusters"-esque adventure, the movie flounders between its ambition and execution, rendering a disjointed feel that struggles to harmonize its crude comedy with Schaffer’s initially envisioned PG-13 outline. This discrepancy casts a shadow over the film's identity, leaving viewers to navigate through an uneven narrative that sporadically hints at brilliance but largely succumbs to its jarring tone shifts.

Ben Stiller's portrayal of Evan, an overly ambitious Costco manager oblivious to his crumbling personal life, alongside Vince Vaughn's Bob, bring their typical character arcs to the fore, yet fail to invigorate the plot with fresh nuance. Conversely, Jonah Hill and Richard Ayoade offer a glimmer of redemption through their characters' quirky and unconventionally humorous dynamics. While the film stumbles in delivering a cohesive plot, moments of genuine laughter emerge from the ensemble's chemistry and the absurdity of their suburban plight against extraterrestrial foes. However, these instances are fleeting, lost amidst a barrage of tired penis jokes and a narrative that leans too heavily on its setting—rendering what could have been an effective satire into an extended commercial for the wholesale giant.

Director Akiva Schaffer's endeavor into meshing science fiction with comedy delivers action sequences that occasionally spark humor through their inventive execution, hinting at what could have been if the script had allowed for a more balanced mix of wit and thematic coherence. The soundtrack momentarily uplifts the film, cleverly nodding to the irony of casting suburbia as a hotbed for gangster rap ideologies. Despite these efforts, "The Watch" ultimately fades into mediocrity, unable to reconcile its disparate elements into a seamless narrative. The movie attempts to fashion a tapestry of humor, camaraderie, and sci-fi intrigue but ends up as a patchwork—each square vivid in isolation but collectively failing to blanket the viewer with the intended comedic or thematic impact.

The Watch," a sci-fi action comedy featuring an ensemble cast including Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, and Jonah Hill, emerges as a divisive film that struggles to find its comedic footing amidst a tangled script and mismatched tone. The movie's attempt to oscillate between PG-13 sensibilities and a hard-R veneer results in a disjointed experience that leaves much to be desired. Despite moments of brilliance from Jonah Hill and Richard Ayoade, their talents seem underutilized, trapped in character types that echo their previous, more successful roles. The narrative's core—a group of bumbling individuals confronting an alien threat—occasionally hits humorous notes but more often misfires amidst an overreliance on crude dialogue and undercooked jokes.

From a technical standpoint, 20th Century Fox's Blu-ray release of "The Watch" presents a robust audio-visual quality that admirably supports the film's sci-fi elements and action sequences. The video transfer is crisp, retaining fidelity to the original cinematography, while the audio track robustly captures the dynamic range of the film's soundtrack and sound effects, from the subtle environmental sounds to the more overt alien encounters. However, the Blu-ray's special features, although somewhat entertaining, are criticized for being too brief and lacking in substance, providing minimal additional value to fans or casual viewers alike.

In conclusion, while "The Watch" flounders in its attempt to meld science fiction with comedy, its Blu-ray presentation offers a silver lining with high-quality audio and visual experience. Nevertheless, given the film's uneven execution and the supplementary content's lack of depth, this release is best positioned as a rental rather than a priority purchase. Potential viewers may find some enjoyment in the technical presentation or sporadic comedic gems, but overall, "The Watch" is an underwhelming offering that fails to fully capitalize on its promising premise or talented cast.