Seth Rogen, Zac Efron and Rose Byrne lead the cast of Neighbors, a comedy about a young couple suffering from arrested development who are forced to live next to a fraternity house after the birth of their newborn baby. Neighbors is directed by Nick Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek).
Director: Nicholas Stoller
Cast: Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne, Dave Franco
Release Date: May
09, 2014
Runtime: 1 hr. 37 min.
Genres: Comedy
Review:
Neighbors is a refreshing surprise of a comedy. Not because it’s hilarious, which it is, but
because it’s actually a lot smarter than you’d expect from any of the trailers. Sharply written, the R rated comedy is just
as much about a tit for tat war between a frat house and 30 something neighbors
as it is about learning to grow up and become an adult. This may sound a bit heavier than you’d
expect but it’s all handled very subtly but the theme is there and it really
elevates it about other raunchy comedies.
As for the comedy itself, it’s nearly perfect. The laughs come at a fast pace hit a
wonderful zenith during various moments of its raucous runtime. Seth Rogan and Rose Byrne make a surprisingly
effective combo even if someone like Byrne ending up with something like Rogan
and having a baby requires more suspension of disbelief than most comic book
movies. Zac Efron and his chiseled body,
flexed throughout, brings some impressively refined comedic chops to his
role. He could have easily fallen into
some tried and true stereotypes but he avoids them thanks to the script. Neighbors is one of those films that’ll be
quoted for years to come and for good reason.
B+
