Neighbors

By: John Delia

Welcoming the new neighbors; or not.  If you thought you saw wild and crazy in Project X and liked the movie, then it’s time to check out the Neighbors.  It’s a silly war between a frat that’s been kicked off campus and the family next door.  Although it has its moments and will probably rock the first weekend box office because of the young target market, the film stumbles over its own feet. Goofy, insane and outrageous are not used as complements here, especially after the first act.

From used condoms to magic mushrooms its Delta Psi against the Radner’s in a next door showdown.  Did I say showdown? Well, I meant to say war. It’s only been a matter of months since Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly Radner (Rose Byrne) have brought home their cute little baby and are still curious about who has just bought the house next door. It’s not long before a moving van drives up and a group of college students lead by Teddy Sanders (Zac Efron), President of Delta Psi Beta, start unloading their Greek letters to put over the entrance.

As the last hand truck takes in the remainder of their belongings, Mac and Kelly decide to pay them a visit and set up some friendly neighborly “ground rules” like keeping the noise down after 10 pm. When Teddy and Vice President Pete (Dave Franco) throw their first party, things start getting out of hand. Director Nicholas Stoller puts his film in high gear without any lagging moments from the very beginning to it’s all out war ending.  He uses Seth Rogen as his centerpiece with all the comedy revolving around his get even personality. 

While this is a good thing, it goes way over the top sometimes losing its “funny.” Seth has a persona that’s easily recognizable because it never changes no matter what character he plays.  Here he’s the good old boy who fights back with his back to the wall. He’s funny, but also juvenile. He built this character a long time ago and uses it every chance he gets. For some films it’s a blast, others annoying. From Superbad to Knocked Up to This Is The End and now in Neighbors, he’s still Seth Rogen doing Seth Rogen.

The saving grace here; however, comes with his support cast that includes a very crafty performance by Rose Byrne who steals the show during a number of scenes.  She plays one crazy dame and when her Kelly is crossed, look-out. Byrne can turn it up and tone it down, making her character unpredictable when it’s needed most to create laughter.  When she goes from mild mannered housewife to outrageous party animal she’s a huge audience pleaser.

If you are looking for a performance from Zac Efron it never shows up.  He’s shirtless and good looking so the gals will have an eyeful, but no more than that. Like Rogen, he plays himself in Neighbors.  Always the straight man and there for his glam, he plays Teddy as the cool Troy Bolton in High School Musical. Only now he’s old enough to be a college graduate. I’m not knocking him, just being real.  (Please throw him a starring role in a unique drama so he can move on to greatness.)

The film is filled with cameos of cable and TV characters like Kyle Newacheck, Adam DeVine, Anders Holms and Blake Anderson of “Workaholics,” Ike Barinholtz from “The Mindy Project,” Lyndsy Fonseca in “How I Met Your Mother,’ Andy Samberg from “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” Jake Johnson in “New Girl”,and Hannibal Buress of “Broad City.” Speaking of Hannibal, he’s probably the funniest comic in the film.

Neighbors has been rated R for pervasive language, strong crude and sexual content, graphic nudity, and drug use throughout.  Whew! Did they leave anything out? Oh, yeah, violence (unless you count the bloodless foray in the final battle of the “Radner War”).

FINAL ANALYSIS: If you want party animals, rent Animal House, Old School, Project X, Beerfest or even Superbad. (C+)