Neighbors

Get ready for some side-splitting laughs with NeighborsSeth Rogen and Rose Byrne star as a couple who deal with a fraternity that moves in next door led by Zac Efron. Family, parties, babies, boobies and mayhem ensue in this hilarious romp.

The Players:

  • Director: Nicholas Stoller
  • Writers: Andrew J. Cohen and Brendan O’Brien
  • Starring: Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron, Dave Franco, Ike Barinholtz, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Carla Gallo
  • Cinematography: Brandon Trost
  • Music: Michael Andrews

The Plot:

When a couple and their newborn baby find a home, they think everything’s on the up and up — that is until a fraternity moves in next door. After trying to be “cool” adults, they’re forced to take matters into their own hands to protect their child from their raunchy neighbors.

The Good:

  • The Story: Neighbors is a fun and believable exaggeration of life. They take two stories about growing up: One from the college age perspective and the other from the new family perspective. You believe that if these worlds collided things would escalate as they do, which is what makes the movie work. Even when the more outlandish things occur, their motivated by real life circumstances people can relate to.
  • The Cast: There are some great comedic talents here from Rogen and Mintz-Plasse to Franco and Barinholtz. Efron continues to be a comedic revelation, following up 17 Again with a bang in this raunchy tale. He and Franco are believable as college buddies. Despite it being quite the sausage fest, Byrne steals the show. She and Rogen are authentic as a newly nesting couple.
  • The Gags: The stakes are high as the film turns into a revenge arms race to get rid of the other. There’s lots of comedy about embarrassing situations like young parents trying stay hip and relevant. The “meet the neighbors” exchange is hilarious in that you feel embarrassed for them. There’s also the shocking, laugh and tear-inducing breast feeding scene which takes things to a whole new level. The shenanigans in that house riffs off the college experience and the social lives of young adults.
  • Rose Byrne: Byrne has selected fantastic movies to showcase her comedic chops. From Get Him to the Greek to Bridesmaids, she has crafted some of the funniest females in recent history. Her dramatic chops lend themselves to the mommy moments of her character but then she’s a riot with the schemes. In the “Bros Before Hoes” sequence, she completely runs the show.
  • Efron: He breaks the mold and begins to carve out his new brand in this film. As Teddy, he plays a Barney Stinson in the making mixed in with some early Tom Cruise. While he plays the main antagonist, the moments where he begins to realize he’s at his prime and it’s only downhill from there showcase his dramatic abilities. Efron does not play it one dimensionally. He brings gravitas to the character and the reality for guys like that position.

Overall:

Neighbors is the first fantastic comedy of the year. It hits all the right notes with laughs, shock and heart. The ensemble is solid and you’ll find yourself wanting to see it again.

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