Neighbors

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