By: Robert Murphy
You know it comes along every once and awhile still where a
frat house type comedy tries to recapture some of the glory days of movies like
National Lampoon’s: Animal House but
none really pull off a solid effort but Neighbors
does the best job I’ve seen in awhile. The story unfolds on Mac Radner
(Seth Rogan,) his wife Kelly Radner (Rose Bryne) and their new daughter who
have moved into a new home and trying to settle into being parents but still
looking to be wild and young. This unfortunately proves to be impossibly hard
as the two find themselves tired by 9pm and get most of their excitement by
trying to have sex in various rooms of the house for a little spice. Then
enters a curve ball for the two when a fraternity moves into the home right
next to their home and while things start off well enough, things
quickly will spiral out of control with Teddy (Zac Efron) looking to make
history for himself and his brothers frat.
I found myself asking the question whether or not Seth Rogan
has to smoke weed in every single role he’s ever taken part in, this wasn’t
mockingly mind you I just wondered if I’ve ever not seen him with a joint in a
film. This is good though honestly as he plays to the strengths of his acting
by getting put into these roles and in Neighbors
it’s no different. Well that’s not true it’s actually better because the
movie isn’t all about pot and focusing on it like Pineapple Express. Rogan and Efron both are great for the roles
they are given as Efron’s Teddy plays the jerky frat president perfectly with
the cocky swagger and confidence he exudes through the early scenes of the film
and gets increasingly more insecure as time goes on. When the prank wars
breakout between Rogan and Efron, we see things get more and more challenging
for him as a character who knows his time is almost up and he must leave his
legacy and win this for future brotherhood members. He’ll soon find out though
that the frat isn’t everything and that you do need something else to hang your
hat on with wise words from Rogan’s character advising him to enjoy things
while they last.
The small exploits of the frat’s pranks against Mac and
Kelly start out innocently enough with things like trashing their yard with
cans and garbage or walling Mac in the face with an exercise ball. But things
escalate immensely after a tragic event with Mac and Kelly’s daughter nibbling
on a “balloon” latex like item and they decide to strike back. The nasty and
ridiculous events that unfold from here get crazier and crazier especially with
Kelly’s evil masterminding of things. My favorite prank though had to be the
frat taking advantage of the new trend popcorning and placing airbags in places
that Rogan would likely sit and watching him rag doll over himself. Things all
culminate at the end of the year bash though and we finally test the time told
tale of which is better a sick pack or keg, you can guess which is which.
Efron’s and Rogan’s fight scene was particularly enjoyable to watch as Rogan is
constantly being surprised with his ability to fight back against a ripped
Efron.
Great additions to the cast of Neighbors include the other frat boys that accompany Efron in his
ill gotten games, Pete (Dave Franco,) Scoonie (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) and
Garf (Jerrod Carmichael.) They all add to the frats ridiculous nature
especially Dave Franco who plays Vice President to Efron’s president and does a
great job of fulfilling the bromance angle. Meanwhile Scoonie and Garf fill in
the blanks with comedy when the others aren’t on screen.
Neighbors isn’t a
film that is extremely lewd with it’s humor but it does hit some cringe worthy
notes along the way so watch out if you aren’t into that sort of thing. For the
rest of you I found it to be right up my ally with the humor and their wasn’t
many lulls with it at all, one or two points in the movie I wanted to end
quickly but that can be overlooked because it might have been just me. All in
all, the movies gives exactly what it set out to do and provides solid laughs
from start to finish with Efron’s and Rogan’s on screen rivalry making
incredible on screen chemistry.
Good:
- Solid laughs from beginning to end
- Brilliantly casted as Efron and Rogan hit high notes in their
roles
- Lewd and hilarious stunts that I am dying to try for myself
Bad:
- A couple of dragged out scenes that didn’t seem to end
Scully Rating: 8.0 out of 10
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