Neighbors Review: Beer Pong Anyone?

I have to admit going in, I was a bit skeptical about the adult comedy "Neighbors"...After all, I had seen both the Red Band and green band trailers and laughed quite a lot...In those cases, it usually turns out that by the time the film hits theaters--I've already seen the funniest bits from the film. Thus-making the trip to the cineplex a waste of both precious time and money.

Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly Radner (Rose Byrne) are a young married couple very much in love with each other. They have a new baby--daughter Stella (Elise and Zoey Vargas), and a house. Hello adulthood. No more all-night partying, no more sex without the baby present, she might even be watching. The Radners seem to be adjusting well.

Until a fraternity moves into the house right next door.

Mac and Kelly immediately realize what that means: NOISE! Noise that will wake the baby. The Radners head next door to make nice with their new neighbors. Mac bonds with frat president Teddy (Zac Efron) over some weed, alcohol, and a cross-generational discussion about Michael Keaton in  Tim Burton's Batman vs. Christian Bale's turn as The Dark Knight for Christopher Nolan. Now they're not just neighbors -- they’re bros. Teddy only asks one thing of Mac and Kelly: if there's ever too much noise, don't call the cops. Talk to him first.

The bromance is quickly tested the following night; The frat throws a wild party. It's late. Stella is wide awake. And Mac's repeated phone calls to Teddy are being ignored...The couple decide to call the police anonymously...

 

I am relieved to say that the film is quite funny beyond it's promo material. Although I stop short of calling it "this generation's Animal House" as claimed by the TV ads. The Delta Psi frat doesn't have nearly as many memorable members as the Delta Tau Chi house from the now classic 1978 film...I digress.

I was surprised at just how much chemistry there is between Rogen and Byrne. In a film where, for all practical purposes, Kelly is the only female character--She holds her own in a sea of testosterone, cursing like a sailor, not afraid to get down and dirty with the boys.

Efron is also good here--proving once again with the right material--his days as a Disney kid are long forgotten. Fellow comedy 17 Again and dramas Me and Orson Welles and At Any Price comvinced me that he's more than just some Abercrombie & Fitch store model.

The film's script by Brendan O'Brien and Andrew Cohen contains some inspired gags. I won't  spoil them...But most of them work. Nicholas Stoller called action on  the pic and thankfully knows what he's doing.

I do have some issues-The film spends just a few seconds to explain why none of the other residents are not bothered by what goes on here on their street--rather convenient no?

While the great Ike Barinholtz is hilarious as Mac's pal and Dave Franco as Efron's best friend Pete who is also frat vice president gets to have fun here--the awesome Christopher Mintz-Plasse is wasted playing frat boy Scoonie. Lisa Kudrow as the Dean of the school has a few nice bits but seems underwritten. At a brisk 96 minutes I am sure there was plenty of stuff edited out...

Neighbors is a fun summer comedy that should keep you laughing