Over the top vulgarity, tons of pot and weed usage, and everything you’d expect from Rogen and crew produces solid laughs.
Hello Moviegoers! “Neighbors” will have most viewers laughing at the war between young and old and the age old decision we all have to face: growing up. The film loses some of its appeal by over doing a lot of its more raunchy jokes and although ten times better than “This is the End” the hand of Apatow is sorely missed.
Neighbors ( 2 ½ sweet potatoes out of four) Stars: Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne, Dave Franco, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Ike Barinholtz, Carlo Gallo, and Jerrod Carmichael; Director: Nicholas Stoller; Genre: Comedy; Rated: R; Running Time: 97 minutes; Opens: Friday, May 9th, 2014.
Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly (Rose Byrne) are new parents and fighting to stay young. Kelly is bored at home and Mac’s job provides no stimulation while their recently divorced friend, Paula (Carlo Gallo) convinces them that they need to be out and party. Enter the neighbors, Delta Psi Fraternity, led by their President, Teddy (Zac Efron) whose goal is to make the fraternity wall of fame. Teddy along with the vice president, the studious, Pete (Dave Franco) are fighting to make their senior year the most epic and join the canals of past, Delta Psi, noted in legend for inventing toga parties and beer pong.
After the initial meet and greet, where the Radner’s fail at playing it cool, the first party happens and the couple is forced to confront the fraternity. Teddy invites them both inside and courtesy of mushrooms, Teddy and Mac become buds. They party all night with Delta Psi, and Teddy has them promise to never call the cops. Unfortunately, the next night brings another party and Mac and Kelly’s fear of waking the baby drives them to call the cops, after repeated failed attempts to meet Teddy. Once the promise has been broken, war breaks out and the fraternity plots to make the Radner’s life suck while they work on shutting down the frat house.
While Rogen and Efron, decorate posters and advertisements, the true star and cause behind the film’s genuine laughs is Rose Byrne. Byrne effectively steals the show and the comedy from both male leads, while Rogen continues with his usual gag of unfunny weed jokes. “Neighbors” also suffers from overdoing vulgarity in more ways the one, I would be surprised in a close read with the script if I found three successive sentences without the F-word.
Family vs. Frat reads the tagline, and in the end you don’t care who wins you just enjoy laughing at the ride. “Neighbors” with all of its fallbacks works and the film entertains. I give “Neighbors” 2 ½ sweet potatoes out of four.
This is A. P. Richardson for Moviegoers View and I’ll see you after the movies at moviegoersview.com.
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