Jeremy Rushing
Contributing Writer
Besides “Animal House” and possibly “Old School,” movies that try to portray the life of college fraternities and sororities have left much to be desired. Many have come up too bland or unrealistic.
Although the concept has failed to entertain in the past, “Neighbors” has proven to be anything but your typical movie next door.
The movie focuses on Mac (Seth Rogan) and Kelly (Rose Byrne). They are a couple in their 30s who are struggling with the fact they may not be as young and “hip” as they once were.
In one scene they attempt to go out with some available friends of theirs, which ends up disappointing for Mac and Kelly to say the least.
This is where the title “Neighbors” comes into play, as one day a bunch of young frat boys move in to the house next door. The crew is led by Teddy (Zac Efron) and his sidekick, Pete (Dave Franco).
Mac and Kelly see this as their chance to relive some of the crazy times they had in their ‘20s. Unfortunately, every time they try to prove how “cool” they are it only backfires.
It doesn’t take long before Mac and Kelly get tired of the constant partying and bedlam occurring next door.
After getting a noise complaint called on them, the frat declares war against their elder neighbors.
The two sides engage in pranks that begin harmless but obviously escalate as the movie progresses.
Rogan, Byrne, Franco, and Efron play off of each other extremely well in this movie. Their constant awkward, hilarious back-and-forth provides the audience with plenty of one-liners that they can quote with their friends for years to come.
Byrne has shown her comedic talents in the past (“Bridesmaids” and “The Internship” just to name a couple), but in this movie she shows just how much her acting serves the genre.
Usually, the wife in any movie is seen as the “voice of reason” or the one holding the husband back from doing something stupid. In “Neighbors,” Kelly is just as crazy and hilarious (maybe even more so) as Mac.
Efron and Franco are ridiculous and are perfect for their respective characters, as are Rogan and Byrne.
Generational comedy can cross boundaries at times, and it may be awkward, but this generation loves and embraces awkward. Good for all of us, because we get plenty of awkward moments in “Neighbors.”
