Judging from the trailer of the film “Neighbors,” it appears that it will be full of crude behavior that is just so typical of films featuring fraternities and young people’s partying lifestyle. While this film does have moments that will make you cringe, it does manage to explore some aspects of life changes such as young people not quite sure about their futures vs. young married people with families trying to come to terms with adult life and the responsibilities. However, when these two worlds collide, all hell breaks loose.
Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly (Rose Byrne) live in a quiet neighborhood with their young daughter and are trying to adjust to their new reality of family life. Much to their dismay, the house next door gets sold to a fraternity run by Teddy (Zac Efron). The couple worry that their lives will be turned upside down with the partying ways of the group. They are correct, as the loud parties begin to take its toll on them and one call to the cops sparks an all-out war. When one group has the upper hand over the other, a crazy prank occurs to set off a chain of events where the animosity between everyone involved reaches incredible heights. Just when you think you’ve figured out who will come out the winner in all this, you may be surprised at how things actually turn out.
Normally such frat boy types of movies are filled with terrible jokes, lots of potty humor and gross behavior. “Neighbors” does go a bit far at times with these aspects but they are presented in smaller doses and mixed up with some slapstick comedy that actually made for a few really funny and sometimes unexpected moments of craziness. The idea of showing two sides, the younger party generation vs. the married couple who is kind of missing that lifestyle, but trying to adjust to being grown up along with grown up responsibilities is an interesting theme to explore.
Zac Efron was convincing in the role of Teddy, a very different character than the one he played in “High School Musical.” Also the odd yet funny pairing of Zac and Seth worked quite well and Rose Byrne was also notable in the film. The film was not as bad I thought it was going to be. So if you just want to have a few laughs without having to think too much, check it out.
Special Features:
-Digital Copy
-Deleted/Alternate Scenes
-Line-O-Rama
-Gag Reel
-An Unlikely Pair
-Partying with the Neighbors
-On the Set with…
-The Frat
