Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising
Starring Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne
Directed by Nicholas Stoller
It certainly didn’t beg for the follow-up treatment but two years after contending with a rambunctious frat, Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne are back to deal with a rogue sorority in Neighbors 2. It should surprise no one that the plot of Neighbors 2 is a virtual carbon copy of the first one. Thankfully, there are enough tweaks to maintain a consistent collection of timely laughs, gross-out gags, and plain old wacky physical humour.
This time around, Mac (Rogen) and Kelly (Byrne) are trying to sell their house just as an independent sorority led by Chloë Grace Moretz takes up residence in the very same house next door to them that was the subject of so much turmoil in the first movie. A scene-stealing Zac Efron, as the mimbo with a heart of gold, once again proves his comic talents as he must team up the couple to square off against the ladies.
Yes, there are the eye-roll inducing airbag stunts and the awkward opening sex scene but at least the movie tries to say something smart about gender politics and the generation gap. To its credit, the film feels very much in the same universe as most of the same cast returns (whether it’s a cameo or a supporting role) and the writers were clearly interested in where this batch of characters would be a few years down the road.
It loses points for lack of originality but Neighbors 2 delivers exactly what fans of the first should expect.
