The drunken frat party is a cliché as old as the couple cohabiting next door to the Delta Psi Beta house in the latest raunch-com, “Neighbors”. Thankfully, the newest summer comedy by director Nicholas Stoller freshens the motif with an aging approach.
Mac and Kelly Radner (Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne) are suburbian settlers in their early to mid 30s. Their new baby and new house puts them ten years ahead of their friends in the life stage game.
“Everything is over,” Mac laments.
However, when the next door house is sold to a local fraternity, Mac jumps at the chance to have it all, “a baby and fun.” They introduce themselves in graphic tees and a flat-brimmed hat, replacing the customary plate of cookies with a joint and an invitation to keep the music down. Frat prez Teddy Sanders (Zac Efron) takes the awkward welcome in stride. He insists the Radners call him before calling the cops if things get too loud.
But Delta Psi Beta’s claim to fame is full-throttle partying, living by the motto “Burn bright, die young.” The brotherhood’s history boasts the inventing of party tropes like beer pong and toga parties. Teddy’s aim is to enter the Delta Psi hall of fame with a legendary year-end party topped off with a firework show — a stunt, he proudly admits to Mac, that burned down their last house.
The late-night ragers undo the couple, forcing a cop call. Teddy finds out Mac and Kelly snitched and the two households declare war, hoping to wear down the other until they move. It is youthful ingenuity versus seasoned resolution. Trashed lawns and airbags hidden into seat cushions are met with property damage and amatuer espionage. Mac and Kelly even maneuver Teddy’s girlfriend into hooking up with Teddy’s best friend and right-hand man, Pete (Dave Franco). It is an escalation of dirty one-upmanship to gain the upperhand.
Seth Rogen plays typical Seth Rogen, a foul mouthed, reefer patron. And between her appearances in “Bridesmaids”, “Portlandia” and “The Internship”, Rose Byrne once again proves her comedy chops. But it is the chemistry between the two that wins the day — it’s simultaneously hilarious and adorable, a made-for-each-other pairing.
Zac Efron’s performance is a treat, keeping a steady balance of callow insecurity and swagger. This film will sober up any lingering Disney aftertaste, even if there is a dance-off scene that might make you think “Neighbors” is an unofficial “High School Musical” follow-up. And Donald Franco does a fine job as a frat boy with an enthusiasm for unused college resources and a clever DeNiro impression to boot.
Amid the frantic beer swilling and rave lights, Mac and Teddy are locked in some metaphysical conflict. Teddy is the young man Mac wishes he could be while Teddy fears becoming the domesticated Mac. All their aggression is unleashed in adolescent machoism. Any stock characters and trite sentiment is rescued by touching performances that are both rude and loveable. It’s a movie with heart, even if a bit simple and overstated. The filmmakers know their target audience and makes the movie relatable for them.
This film earns it’s R rating. It is vulgar, crass and what you’d expect from a Seth Rogen and company flick — and you will probably laugh. But “Neighbors’” biggest problem is that it falls a little flat by it’s own standard. At times, the movie wears thin it’s premise and tangential jokes unrelated to the plot engorge it’s runtime. For those looking forward to “22 Jump Street”, this film might be a suitable substitute for laughs. But for others, this doesn’t have much property value.
