Neighbors 2 Movie Review (Spoiler Free)

The bane of college parties returns to bite the Radners in the butt, just when they are ready to sell their house. This time though, the neighbours are not boys but girls.

Genre: Comedy

Director: Nicholas Stoller

Cast: Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron, Chloë Grace Moretz, Ike Barinholtz, Dave Franco, Carla Gallo, Kiersey Clemons, Beanie Feldstein & Lisa Kudrow.

Run Time: 92 min.

US Release: 20 May 2016

UK Release: 06 May 2016

German Release: 05 May 2016

Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, a.k.a Bad Neighbours 2 as it is known in the UK and Germany, is a follow-up to the 2014 comedy film Neighbours. I am positively surprised by this sequel, expecting a dull plot that retold the same jokes and beats from the first flick, and while this is true to some extent, Neighbours 2 is actually an extremely funny and sometimes macabre continuation of the first part. I can honestly say that I was enjoying this comedy from beginning to end, not finding one dull moment and was surprisingly invested in the character story arc.

This is more of a “passing the torch” narrative than it is a simple repetition of events, which included the typical foul-mouthed vocabulary and poop jokes of a Seth Rogen comedy. It also has a surprising, emotionally touching note. The story revisits the characters of the first movie, depicting how they evolved since their little “neighbourly” feud. Kelly and Mac are expecting their second child and need to sell their house and move into a bigger one, since they are running out of space. Teddy is still trying to figure out what he wants to do in life. All three meet again when a new sorority moves next door, making life hell again for the Radners. The result is not only hilarious, but it also includes a fulfilling emotional conclusion. 

This sequel, just like its predecessor, has some issues, though. A few of the jokes and sketches are taken straight out of the first film, and even though it wasn’t more than one or two, they do lose their comedic effect the second time around! Then there is the troubling fact that it does contain once again characters, in high-level positions, who behave like jerks and simply aren’t believable. Lisa Kudrow, for example, is not only completely wasted, but a disappointment in general!

The cast retained its chemistry, and Chloë Grace Moretz is a fantastic addition to the roster, but the movie is clearly focused on the characters Kelly, Mac and Teddy and how they evolved. 

Seth Rogen & Rose Byrne still depict a believable married couple who have moved past their stage of being comfortable around each other and need to step up as parents. They are clearly way over their heads as first-time parents, trying to cope with their two-year-old daughter and doubting their parenting skills. They are also expecting a new baby and in dire need of more living space. Their only problem is the new sorority that moved in next door and is causing them trouble trying to sell the house.

Zac Efron, playing Teddy, manages to surprise once again. Although his movie with Robert DeNiro, which was released earlier this year, was a complete flop, it did manage to prove that the young actor got rid of his Disney image once and for all. Efron is a good and capable comedian, and I enjoy most of his R-rated comedies. His performance in this film topped that of Dirty Grandpa (not shocking at all!) and gives Teddy a softer side to his character. Teddy lost his way in life, still not knowing what he wants to become; he finds his purpose when helping out his former neighbours to get rid of the new sorority. 

Chloë Grace Moretz depicts Shelby, the head of the sorority that moves in the house next to the Radners’ and is the new thorn in her neighbours’ eyes. The young teenager and college freshman had a tough time in high school, with an overprotective father and no friends; to change that, she decides to join a sorority but is shocked to learn that sorority members are not allowed to consume alcohol or drugs in their home. She soon meets Beth (Clemons) and Nora (Feldstein), with whom she decides to create a sorority that challenges those unscripted rules. 

This comedy makes use of computer effects for stunt-like scenes that are too dangerous to perform in reality, as well as practical effects that are part of punchlines for macabre jokes; both mesh well together but are sparsely used. Although the CG effects look fake at times, and there clearly is a scene that was filmed in front of a green screen, it never hampered the humour in the story.

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Verdict: Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising is a fun sequel to the very funny Neighbours. Contrary to other comedic sequels that simply reuse old jokes and sketches, Neighbours 2 either comes up with new toilet humour (that nearly crossed the line) or manages to repackage jokes from the previous film, giving the punchline a different end. Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron and Chloë Grace Moretz have great chemistry and clearly enjoyed their time on set. The neighbourly feud between the two houses is really funny, as usual, and the pranks they play on each other keep the audience entertained throughout this comedy’s runtime. If you are a fan of the first movie, you will clearly like this one, but if you don’t like toilet humour and foul-mouthed dialogue, I would not recommend you go watch this film. Me? I had a blast with Neighbours 2 and will therefore give it a 6.5 out of 10. 

Have you seen this sequel yet? If you did, leave a comment below with your opinion. Thank you for reading!