There was a moment in the original Neighbors when Mac (Seth Rogan) and Kelly (Rose Byrne) were just trying to get out of the house with their newborn, but the actual act of gathering all the stuff so completely wore them out that they didn’t bother. That really grabbed me having been through it myself not long before. That scene and the stress of trying to do anything for a newborn while living next door to a raging frat house next door felt so relatable, even from a small apartment in Brooklyn. New York City can be like a raging frat house in many ways.
The follow up Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, when a raging sorority moves into the same former house of the raging fraternity, didn’t hit quite the same since my kids are older. But that didn’t keep me from having a blast, even if the sequel was pretty forced.
The premise is familiar, so are the jokes (Seth Rogan + weed) and so is the result. A fun and easy film that had me chuckling enough to finish it. How’s that for a comedic measuring stick? Also: I didn’t even look at my phone. That’s my review: Two thumbs not used.
The cast is great. The fun and games are exactly that. The stakes are never high enough that you really care if they lose. But you know they won’t because, well, you saw the first one. You aren’t watching this one to untangle some great mystery or reach a cathartic reveal. It’s stoner humor with actors you like, a familiar backdrop and just the kind of movie you’ll enjoy if you watch it on an airplane, like I did. Which also means it’s about 25% better than it is, so YMMV if you press “play” on your couch at home. Maybe grab a bong first, if you do.