Zac Efron is better suited with comedy, and Neighbors is further proof of that. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that all of his attempts at being a serious dramatic actor have bombed, so hopefully the success of the film this weekend will prompt him to do more in the near future. Though not a complete monster- without giving anything away, there are moments when his character, frat leader Ted Sanders, could have taken his pranks on couple Mac and Kelly Radner (Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne) to a diabolical level, but doesn’t- he’s still very much an asshole, albeit an enjoyable once to watch. Here he gets to chew up the same amount of scenery he did back as one of the Wildcats in High School Musical, except this time in a far more adult oriented setting.
Bored with the trappings of married life and raising an infant daughter, Mac and Kelly obviously still aren’t comfortable with Ted’s Delta Psi friends moving next door and attempting to throw a party of legendary proportions, and initially they try the diplomatic approach. Since this is a Seth Rogen vehicle, you already know by now what he offers Ted to break the ice. Eventually they’re forced to call the police one night, breaking a promise they would call the frat house ahead of time (the boys don’t bother to answer). After Mac, simultaneously being the most self conscious and least perceptive person on the planet, gives an awkward explanation which only annoys the neighborhood cop, a hazing war erupts between the two houses.
The phrase “die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain” has become part of the public lexicon after The Dark Knight, and that theory gradually starts to apply to the plot as both sides wind up with blood (and other bodily fluids) on their hands. The Radners start out at first wanting to just drive off the dudebros so they and their baby can get some sleep, but that’s before their goals de-evolve into plain oneupsmanship. Though Delta Psi isn’t without its own internal struggles as Ted, his well endowed sidekick Pete (Dave Franco) and the rest try as hard as they can to get in a satisfactory party before the university dean (a pretty funny Lisa Kudrow) cracks down on them. Mac and Kelly’s friends Jimmy (Ike Barinholtz) and his ex Paula (Carla Gallo) are roped into their schemes, and they prove to be about as helpful to the cause as two radiators in Hell.
Buoyed by the star power of its two leads, the film takes full advantage of its R-rating and throws around drug references, crude cartoon violence, nudity and all of George Carlin’s seven dirty words freely (it gets to the point in a funny scene where Mac catches himself and realizes that their daughter’s first word will probably be one of them). The word play is Rogen’s standard self aware style, and Byrne plays along with it extremely well. Oddly enough, as raunchy as Neighbors is, it’s not especially mean spirited or offensive with its humor. Its insane cast is the butt of the joke and nothing else, which is why I can happily recommend it.