Review of Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016) by Raji K — 06 Oct 2016

Seth Rogen, Zac Efron and Rose Byrne all return in the sequel to Neighbors, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising. After settling the score with the frat in the first film, The Mac and Kelly Radner (Rogen and Byrne) are on their way to having a second child, and want to move into another home. They desire to sell their first home, but have an escrow clause on the house which enables the sellers 30 days to keep watch on the house and back out of the sale if needed. This would not be an issue normally, until they find out a new sorority (Kappa Nu) is planning to move next door.

This has the film starting right off where the first film does, as they scramble to find ways to keep the noise down next door. The sorority is led by Shelby (Chloe Grace Moretz), Beth (Kiersey Clemons) and Nora (Beanie Feldstein) and each one of them wants to party in a way that does not demoralize them as a typical frat party makes them feel. The biggest issue is they need to come up with 5,000 a month to maintain rent or they are out, and parties is one of their best ways to raise this amount. The war soon rages between the old people and the young sorority (Parenthood vs. Sisterhood) and the wild card Zac Efron is caught in the middle.

Despite comedic potential Neighbors 2 falls quite flat as far as comedic value. The film is a slightly worse version than the first film. Chloe Grace Moretz is far and away the best part of the film, but this film does not particularly make it clear whether you should be for or her against her. At times she is a lovable loser and can be considered the heroine in the film, but at other moments she is the villain as she will botch the plan of the Radner's selling the home. Feldstein tries all too hard to become a physical comedic presence in a style similar to Melissa McCarthy or Jillian Bell. Zac Efron's entire comedic output was the reliance on him being the hot guy in the film, and him being shirtless to prove it. Ike Barinholtz as Mac Radner's best friend Jimmy, tries way too hard to be comedic sidekick as he does nothing short of running around as a crazy clown in an attempt to scare people until he is hit by a large steak. The movie also seems quite underwritten, and has many scenes that appear to be filler or could have been fleshed out more. This includes Lisa Kudrow as the college administrator, and Hannibal Burress as Officer Watkins.

The movie also has an angle on the film that supports the idea of sisterhood and being true to one's self. This subplot permeates throughout the film, but never enough to bring much impact to the film or give the film some more dimension. The humor banks the most on physical comedy and whatever cache the characters had from the first film. Many of the jokes and scenes in the film were quite predictable as well. For me this was one of the instances where the trailer for the film really captures the best parts of the film, which are not many. Neighbors 2 will likely be enjoyable enough to those who enjoyed the first one, but it will not convince anyone else.

- 10.07.2016.