"Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising"

Title: Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising

Directed by: Nicholas Stoller

Written by: Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Brendan O'Brien, Nicholas Stoller, and Andrew J. Cohen

Year: 2016


Neighbors was quite the surprise when it was first released. Most audiences responded positively to it, and I found myself loving it. Due to the first one's success at the box office, we have been given a sequel in the form of Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising. Is this follow-up a pointless retread, or does it offer something new to make it worthwhile?

Mac and Kelly are trying to sell their home and are currently in escrow. However, during this 30 day period, a new sorority moves in next door with the specific purpose of partying. Now, the married couple must find a way to get rid of the sorority to make sure their house gets sold.

One of the brightest aspects of the previous film was the chemistry between Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne. This seems like such an odd team-up but they work together so extraordinarily well and they bring that same magnetic dynamic to the sequel. Seth Rogen honestly plays similar roles in most of his films, but it works especially well for him here. There is such a likability to his personality, and his stupidity and bluntness in this film are exceptionally comedic. Rose Byrne is just as good and equally likable. Her charm exudes great feminine guile and she owns her line delivery with confidence.

Zac Efron deserves more attention nowadays. He proved his true acting chops with Neighbors and he continues to be a great asset to this series. Efron reprises his role as Teddy from the last film and he nails it once again. He pulls off the ignorant but strangely relatable character with apparent ease. New to the cast is Chloe Grace Moretz, playing a partying sorority girl named Shelby. Moretz has truly become a powerful actress and she showcases her range in this film. She is able to go toe-to-toe with some of these more experienced actors and has a great time doing it.

One look at this film's title and you know what you are getting yourself into. Is this essentially a retread of the first film with a new coat of paint? It absolutely is. But the film wears that label proudly and knows how to have fun with the concept while also introducing some new things. For instance, Teddy is explored much deeper and is given a substantial dilemma in his life, which makes his storyline very engaging. Even Shelby is given a bit of a backstory that many will find relatable.

Most of the differences in this film are found in the plot. Instead of wanting a good night's sleep, the Radners are looking to sell their home. Instead of a fraternity, we have a sorority. Instead of the Radners going against Teddy, the Radners seek his help. There is enough different in this sequel to be able to stand on its own, yet it is also so similar to the first one. Yes, this is pretty much the same movie we got two years ago, but I feel it does enough differently to warrant a watch. The filmmakers have found a formula that works and put it to good use.

I thought the the first picture was completely hilarious. I had such a great time in the theatre with it, so Neighbors 2 had its work cut out for it. Thankfully, this movie brings back that great humor and has it in spades. The best jokes in this film do not come from the pranks or the slapstick, but rather the fantastic one-liners. The simple one-line comebacks/jokes are utterly gut-busting. However, the pranks are also very funny. The girls' pranks are vastly different from what the guys did in the previous film, but they are still hilarious. There is a lot of vulgar humor and if you laughed during the last movie, then you will certainly have a good time with this one.

Something that surprised me about the first film is how it managed to add a little bit of heart, especially towards the end. That sentiment goes double for this picture, and it is not exclusively reserved for the ending. Teddy has a touching plot thread that receives proper attention and resonates with the audience. Near the beginning of the film, Shelby represents a shy outsider, which is a nice touch as it helps the viewer understand her position. I cannot believe I am saying this, but Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising has genuine heart beneath its sill antics.

In terms of issues, there are quite a few. As already mentioned, aside from a few story tweaks, this is essentially the same movie as the first. 22 Jump Street was able to make this concept work, and so does this film, but it is hard to ignore. So if you did not like the first one, this one will not win you over. Also, Dave Franco returns in this film and he slips back into his role fittingly. But the writers changed something about the character that comes out of nowhere. Some time is devoted to this change but it was unnecessary for the story. This twist feels like an attempt to come across as progressive, but instead detracts from the film because it wastes a bit of time and adds nothing to the plot. It also negates how the character was built-up in the previous film.

On a similar note, another problem I found with this movie is how it beats you over the head with one of its messages. Neighbors 2 makes explicit references to sexism on multiple occasions, mostly to comedic effect. However, the film continuously mentions this term to the point where you just want to shout "We get it!" A lot of the jokes revolving around sexism are actually very good. But the frequent mention of the term in the context of the story feels very heavy-handed, thus making the message less impactful.

In the past, comedy sequels have not had a good track record. So many have tried to cash-in on success and most have failed. I can happily say that Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising does not belong in that camp. This is a solid and thoroughly funny flick, headed by a talented cast and helmed by good filmmakers. I still think the first one is better, but there is a lot of fun to be had with this sequel. This movie also allows for a great double feature, watching it right after the first one. Is it wholly original? No. Does it have some problems? Sure. But if you go in looking for a good time, chances are you will get it.

Grade: B+