Pineapple Express writers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg pen this innovative sci-fi comedy. Intent on getting to the bottom of a killing in his wholesale store, manager Evan (Ben Stiller) takes action and forms a neighbourhood watch team, his first recruits including charismatic foreman Bob (Vince Vaughn), high school dropout Franklin (Jonah Hill) and oddball divorcee Jamarcus (Richard Ayoade).
Much to Evan's annoyance, the crack enforcement team soon resembles a boys' drinking club, with the other three happier glugging beer and shooting the breeze. However, after stumbling across a strange metallic weapon, and piecing together other parts of their investigation into the murder, they realise they have discovered a sinister extra-terrestrial conspiracy. The guys begin a full-scale operation to expose aliens hidden among the community, little realising that it isn't just their neighbours they're defending, but the future of the world.
Alongside the comedy class of Stiller, Vaughn and Hill, British export Ayoade (The IT Crowd) more than holds his own, with his deadpan tones delivering some real side-splitters. The film doesn't always hit the mark, but with the calibre of the cast second-to-none, this bromantic comedy still throws up plenty of energy and humour.