Watch It (1993) User Reviews

Movie with a message for both sexes ........

[merklekranz · 7/10 · 6 January 2013]

"Watch It'" really is a difficult movie to describe. On one hand it is a male fraternity brothers type, but on the other hand it is more of a relationship primer. The acting is good, as is character development. The "watch it" pranks are mostly creative and funny, yet there is an unexplainable uneasiness for the audience. For male viewers, there are unappreciated "Lifetime Channel" moments, while females get a good dose of sexist joking. Thus, while "Watch It" has a message for both sexes, I'm uncertain if either can fully appreciate the film in it's entirety. Overall, I would recommend the movie to mixed audiences, but only if you are willing to look past some squirm inducing moments. - MERK

John C. McGinley's speech makes the movie

[russ888 · 7/10 · 8 April 2002]

The Rick Miller Theory of Dating speech (mentioned in another user's comment) should be seen by just about everybody. The humor and realism of that segment is priceless. And McGinley's delivery of it was right on. Curse of the nice guy. I wish the pranks would have continued throughout the movie to add some more 'juice' to it, though.

forgotten gem

[pepekwa · 8/10 · 19 June 2009]

I love original movies and this film's practical jokes or "Watch it's" were brilliant. It also helped that it made me feel nostalgic about the days when I hung out in my late twenties with my buddies trying to stay single and "cool" at all costs. There was great chemistry between all the house mates, my only criticism of the movie is that it got a bit melodramatic and mushy in the middle when the John,Anne and Michael love triangle began to develop. But a brilliant succession of very imaginative "watch it's" and clever plot turns raised this movie well above the usual romantic comedy/buddy movie dross. This movie is one of those that slipped under the radar and is probably in the $5 bargain box at walmart, its a steal if you can find it!

Great Chicago Film

[xerxes13 · 10/10 · 2 May 2000]

A must see Chicago filmed movie. Perfect for 20 something adult males. A "romantic comedy for men" as I like to call it. Very funny, may give roommates a few ideas. I know it did for me.

Worth viewing just for the scene between John C. McGinley & Peter Gallager, where McGinley explains what type of woman Gallager should be dating. A.K.A. the Rick Miller theory of dating.

I love this movie!

[ytakreed · 10/10 · 21 May 2001]

I loved this movie from the second that Peter Gallagher bursts out of the fridge and yells "Watch it!" for the first time. I'll admit that the romance angle is lacking, with Gallagher and Suzy Amis. But the relationships among the guys make up for it. Tom Sizemore turns in an awesome performance, and Lili Taylor is notable even though she has a small part. I think everyone should see this movie.

Excellent movie about relationships

[preppy-3 · 10/10 · 24 May 2009]

John (Peter Gallagher) travels to Chicgao to reconnect with cousin Mike (Jon Tenney). He moves into the house Mike shares with Rich (John C. McGinley) and Danny (Tom Sizemore). John meets and falls in love with Ann (Suzy Amis) who dated Mike but dumped him for cheating on her. Mike finds out and might want her back. Meanwhile Rich is dating Ellen (Cynthia Stevenson) but can't commit. Also Watch It is an immature game the has the guys play practical jokes on each other. Lili Taylor also plays a small but important role.

This film was just great. This is easily one of the most honest films I've even seen on relationships between men and women. The dialogue is frank and dead on accurate. McGinley's view on women especially has to be heard to be (dis)believed! The acting is all excellent especially Tenney turning in a great low-key performance. The only debits--the practical jokes the guys play on each other are unfunny and implausible (especially one involving a car) and it cops out at the ending. Still it has more moments of honesty and truth than hundreds of other Hollywood movies on relationships. This was thrown away by its distributor and has a lousy title but it's well worth searching out. Funny, honest and just great! A 10.

A Glimpse of Early Careers

[i_r_c · 19 August 2004]

While bored, I dug up an old VHS copy of watch it that I haven't watched in close to ten years. While watching it, I began to notice the beginnings of some actors we see in all sorts of TV and movies. We see Cynthia Stevenson before she grew long hair and became the token actress to play mothers. It's odd to see her in this young age. We also see a nice glimpse of John C. Mcginley between Wall Street and Scrubs. He's a great actor, and we see more depth in him than in prior roles. In Wall Street, he was barely more than scenery. We also see Peter Gallagher before he got stuck in the scenery actor rut. A year later, we saw him for mere moments in Hudsucker Proxy. We see him everywhere, but despite his talent, we hardly see him in lead roles. I really enjoyed the film.

I hope this movie comes out on DVD

[heego · 10/10 · 3 August 2008]

I love this movie. It's a movie meant to be seen, and it is one that you can throw in the machine to "watch it" anytime to lighten one's spirits. Relationships are not always an easy thing to keep in check between men and women, and lots of things can happen. "Watch It" helps keep one on his/ her toes. Values and Morales are questioned. Attitudes and behaviors create reactions that create pathways of opportunities. Which way do I between right, wrong, and the unknown? I do not think that the movie got all the credit it deserves, and that I hope others get the chance to see this film. Please get this movie to DVD or better, because VHS is the past, and this movie is meant to be seen forever.

This movie defined my twenties

[david-368-502339 · 10/10 · 10 February 2022]

One of the greatest relationship/player films that no one has ever seen! A college friend of mine turned me on to this unknown gem about 25 years ago, and it became the instant cult hit with my friendship group. I have probably seen this movie about 25 times (every new friend had to watch it, and then QUOTE Rick Miller's Theory of Women, before being fully accepted into the group). I have this film memorized now, but to find it anywhere (besides VHS) is a futile quest.

While living in Nashville, I met a woman who actually worked on the set! She said that much of the film was written hours before filming, and it has that sense of loose improv but still some of the best comic writing in a long time. The chemistry between characters is impeccable, and the conversational style matched my friendship base perfectly, so we were all hooked. We even started doing Watch It practical jokes as a group.

If you are a fan of movies like Swingers or Skin Deep, this is perfect to add to the lexicon. And like Vince Vaughn, it probably was a boost from a casting perspective for Sizemore, Gallagher, and Mcginley.