The latter is rather jarring at first, but the film follows them as they try to solve the crime while forging an unlikely bond. Well, at least that's what the screenwriter seems to think: that two men with the same interests—in this case, solving crimes in the neighborhood—are unlikely to form a bond.
Director: Duncan SkilesWriter: Sean FarleyStars: Jack Quaid, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Akerman
I understand the skepticism, because in real life, I guess a person like Simon would never get close to a guy like Ed, even if it was his only option... Or maybe he just would. There are a lot of disappointing aspects to Neighborhood Watch. It's a very grim film with very cheerful actors who, for some reason, just don't fit this bill.
The atmosphere sets the tone for a typical thriller about kidnappings and other terrifying situations, but the main focus here is the friendship between these two unusual men, and the juxtaposition of these two elements derails the film rather than adding any nuance. It's not that the pacing is sluggish or the story is silly; it just feels like a generic, cookie-cutter buddy movie, almost mirroring the "Good Cop, Bad Cop" sentiment.
There's nothing visually spectacular, the dialogue isn't great, and overall it just feels very boring. Also, I don't want to be that person, but this movie is clearly for guys, and I'm pretty sure it wouldn't pass the Bechdel test. Or even if it did, simply adding a sister and a female cop won't make it complete. However, I don't think it's entirely garbage either. I really enjoy the feeling of the film and how it puts Simon's character's point of view into perspective in a very enjoyable way.
There's some humor, and it's mostly dark, so if you like that sort of thing, you might enjoy this one. And yes, the bond between Simon and Ed, which constantly shifts from friends to brothers to father-son to therapist and patient, is quite enjoyable. It's the best part of the film, of course, so if you just want to focus on that, this movie is pretty decent. There's a scene with the click of a pen that I quite enjoyed, and there's also another one where the two leads smile at each other, which I loved.
As for the characters, I think they feel a bit shallow. We don't really know anything about Ed, except that he's married to his job and, despite being retired, doesn't want to let it go. On the other hand, Simon has some family issues, but we don't explore them at all, and his relationship with his sister also feels like it was tacked on as an afterthought rather than a significant part of the story. I don't know if it's just me or if the film seems to have a washed-out or "noise" filter added, as the darker scenes lack contrast and the shadows aren't dark enough, which put me off a bit, but I think it's just a personal quibble.
I recommend reading some warnings before watching this film, as it includes blood and gore, themes of self-harm, and other things you might want to know beforehand. It's 93 minutes long, and the second half is a bit more interesting, as the kids start talking, getting along, and understanding each other. All in all, I think the film had the potential to be great, but it just didn't have all the pieces in place. Jack Quaid does a pretty decent job portraying a man tormented by memories and hallucinations.
I don't want to give away details, but there's a voice in his head that really bothers him throughout the film, and at times his approach resembles Birdman's. The last time I saw it, he was playing a jerk in Companion, and I don't know if it's recency bias that's bothering me, but I just can't imagine him in such a serious role, and maybe that marred my experience watching this film. Because I don't think he's bad at leaving his comedic persona behind in a film like this, but for some reason I didn't enjoy his performance as much, and it didn't make me feel as much as it should have.
On the other hand, Jeffrey Dean Morgan is good at playing an annoying old man. I think he also has good chemistry with Jack, and I almost didn't recognize him with that receding hairline and that beardless look. If you're looking for a film about two men trying to find their place in a world they don't belong in, then Neighborhood Watch might interest you.
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