Review of Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016) by Carmen C — 04 Jul 2016

Still neighborly despite putting out too much recycling, this deuce brings a lot of gross-out and overly familiar gags but also ponies up with a lot of truly funny and poignant moments. Call it gross negligence. Arguably, gags involving used tampons, breached fetuses, and vomit-sex have a place in movies and that place is the cutting room floor. No one ever accused a Seth Rogen comedy of propagating puppy dogs and ice cream, but his latest ratchets up the disgust factor worse than the Jackass oeuvre. There's an intelligent design to his comedies despite an overabundance of sophomoric gags, however, and Neighbors 2 still luckily counts itself among these numbers.

In this R-rated sequel to the 2014 hit comedy, a sorority even more debaucherous than the fraternity before it moves in next door to Mac (Rogen) and Kelly (Rose Byrne), so they ask for help from their former neighbor and enemy, Teddy (Efron).

One of five writers (Rogen's writing partner Evan Goldberg and director Nicholas Stoller among them), the mastermind behind Superbad (itself no stranger to off-putting humor) crafts some disposable bits, re-uses others from the first go-round to varied success, but - most importantly - also mines some original gems that make this more than just a re-tread. Putting a twist on the first flick, he and his on-screen wife (an underserved Rose Bryne) align themselves with their former Neighbors antagonist, which creates an interesting dynamic. Not only do Mac and Teddy endear themselves to the audience and, gulp, develop more as characters despite this often being a case of second helpings, the interplay between Rogen and Efron proves to be absolute comedy gold. Also, Dave Franco, who stole many scenes in the first chapter, shows the most development of all in an advancement that hints of, dare it be said, a maturation for the series. As for the sorority in Sorority Rising, the movie makes some amazing social commentary about sexism and sexual politics...in-between used tampon jokes, that is.

Bottom line: Animal Louse.