As far as sequels are concerned, this is a good one. In Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, Mac Radner (Seth Rogen) and Teddy Sanders (Zac Efron) return to the big screen for another adventure involving young college students who are more concerned with partying than showing respect to their middle-aged neighbours.
This time around, it revolves around a sorority led by Shelby (Chloe Grace Moretz AKA Brooklyn Beckham’s girlfriend), a girl who insists that if fraternities can host parties, then sororities can too. Shelby’s new sorority complicates things for Mac and his pregnant wife Kelly whose house next door is in escrow. Things escalate very quickly and before you know it, Shelby and her friends rob Mac’s house, hack his phone and become his worst nightmare.
With my 25th birthday only a few months away, I found it funny when the sorority girls wondered if Teddy was going through a quarter life crisis. After all, before he decided to help them grow the sorority as their mentor, he was a directionless new grad working retail. What’s more, his co-workers made him feel so old to the extent that one day he covered for his boss who had to miss work to go to prom. Teddy also remarks that the events of the last movie were so damaging that he still has a criminal record for his rambunctiousness!
I liked how during an opening scene, Shelby admits that when she was at another sorority’s rush event, she read old texts on her phone just to appear cool. This becomes a bonding moment between her and her new best friend Beth (Kiersey Clemons) who confesses to doing the same thing. From a selfie stick to a landline phone, the way the movie uses technology to entertain the audience is clever.
I laughed through all of Neighbors 2. Liked it more than the first. Not saying this because I love @ikebarinholtz & @Sethrogen IT'S TRUE..
— kelly oxford (@kellyoxford) May 20, 2016
On the other hand, I found the jokes about Judaism unnecessary and I don’t understand why Seth Rogen would want to be in a movie that mocks Orthodox Jews. The script is already filled with countless remarks about sexism and there was no need to add religious commentary, which they do when Teddy pretends that a quiet religious family lives next door.
I also don’t understand why they make Shelby’s partner-in-crime Nora (Beanie Feldstein) the butt of the jokes. It seems like outrageously poor stereotyping to have the relatively heavier girl break into Mac’s car, throw herself through his window and tell the real estate agent she can’t bake an Eggo.
Given that a lot of recent comedies have received terrible ratings, I was hesitant to see Neighbors 2, let alone on opening weekend. However, I’m glad I did because it had many funny moments. Sisters failed to be a good movie about women who love to party, but this one excels. If you loved the first instalment of Neigbors or you just need a laugh, then you’ll enjoy the sequel too.
[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2i9Zz_AqTg’]