REVIEW - 'Neighbors'

'Neighbors' (R) ***1/2
Mac and Kelly Radnor (Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne) are happily married with a newborn baby, but soon get some unexpected new next door neighbors:  a chapter of Delta Psi led by Teddy (Zac Efron) and Pete (Dave Franco), is quite known for their loud, obnoxious social gatherings and shenanigans.  And since it's their last year of college, Teddy and Pete want to throw a party so epic that it becomes immortalized on their frat's Wall of Fame.  At first things are cool between the Radnors and Delta Psi, but once the Radnors call the cops on a noise complaint during a party it soon becomes all out war between the new next door neighbors.  Co-starring Christopher Mintz-Plasse as another fraternity member and Lisa Kudrow as a college dean, with the members of The Lonely Island and the stars of the Comedy Central show "Workaholics" popping up in cameo appearances. 

Sure, most of the conflicts in this movie in real life could easily have been resolved in less than five minutes, but no one said that this movie is supposed to be realistic.  And honestly who cares about realism when a movie is this laugh out loud funny.  It's the most I've consistently laughed during a movie since 'Despicable Me 2'.  None of the jokes really fell flat and there were no moments that seemed to just drag on and on.  The performances are actually top notch, particularly from Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, and Zac Efron.  Each gets their time to shine and are all consistently funny and also profane, but still likable as characters.  It does have some more dramatic moments, such as when Pete goes to a job fair and is actively trying to prepare for life after college while Teddy doesn't have a clue about what's next in life.  Also Mac and Kelly eagerly remember their partying ways in college, but have accepted that they are now adults who with jobs and have a baby to take care of.  Dramatic moments, sure, but handled with a comedic touch thanks to improvisation between the stars and also director Nicholas Stoller ('Forgetting Sarah Marshall', 'Get Him To The Greek', 'The Five-Year Engagement').  Out of all the movies he's directed, this one was by far my favorite.  I liked it way more than Seth Rogen's previous movie 'This Is The End' (still a very good movie though).  If you like Seth Rogen movies, I recommend this.  It is a bit different in that Seth Rogen is actually taking responsibility in this and isn't just the usual man-child stoner that he usually plays in movies.  But humor and movies are subjective.  I tend to like Seth Rogen movies (except for 'Green Hornet') and during the entire running time of 'Neighbors' I laughed, and laughed, and laughed.  



TRAILERS

• 'Blended' - I did chuckle a few times watching this, but i don't know.  Adam Sandler movies for me are usually hit or miss.
  
• 'A Million Ways To Die In The West' - a different trailer than what I'm used to seeing in theaters, ending with a cameo that I won't spoil here but I wish hadn't been in the trailer.  Would have been a nice surprise to discover this cameo when I finally go see the movie, but oh well.  Still looks funny.
  
• '22 Jump Street' - You know, it kinda looks like a complete rehash of the first movie.  It still looks funny though. 
  
• 'Transformers:  Age of Extinction' - Well, at the very least it should be better than 'Transformers:  Revenge of the Fallen'....hopefully.
  
• 'The Purge:  Anarchy' - I liked the first one enough to be interested in seeing this sequel.
  
• 'Wish I Was Here' - Couldn't quite pick up on what this is about from watching this trailer.  All I know is that it's a comedic drama, the second movie directed by Zach Braff after 'Garden State', and that it was funded from a Kickstarter campaign.  Didn't look bad....I just don't know if it's something I'd go see.   
  
• 'The Expendables 3' - SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!!!!