Director Nicholas Stoll’s comedy at least has entertainment value going for it. It may not be the most consistent or tonally even film of the year, but it’s kind of fun when you get down to it. That’s mainly thanks to Zac Efron and Dave Franco that save the movie from being another self indulgent Seth Rogen improv-athon. Rogen literally can’t play anyone but Rogen anymore, even when playing an alien from outer space, but the supporting cast for “Neighbors” really keeps the film from diving in to abysmal depths and keeps it a notch above mediocre. That also includes Rose Byrne, and the hilarious Carla Gallo.
Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne play Mac and Kelly, two parents of a newborn child hoping for the cliché domestic life in their new suburban neighborhood. Restless by the monotony of parenthood, though unwilling to admit it, they’re shocked when a fraternity moves in next door to them. Hoping to get in good with the brotherhood of Delta Psi Beta, they’re welcomed under one condition. If they have a noise complaint, do not call the police. After a frustrating night of noise from partying next door, Mac and Kelly call the police and are sold out by one of the neighborhood officers. Angered and feeling betrayed, co presidents Teddy and Pete lodge an official prank war with the parents, that begins to escalate father than either realize.
Through the war, the pair of warring sides begins to discover something within themselves that keeps the war going on, including Mac and Kelly’s hesitance to grow up, while leader Teddy is horrified that he’s going nowhere after college. Especially when his friend Pete begins exploring career opportunities that far outweigh anything Teddy is capable of. When it stops trying very hard to riff on “Animal House,” director Stoll’s comedy can be pretty funny, and builds on some interesting character dynamics. I especially liked the chemistry between Dave Franco and Zac Efron, both of whom really play well off of one another. Rose Byrne is also hilarious as the shockingly devious house wife who displays a cunning maliciousness when pushed to turn the frat brothers against one another.
That said, Stoll’s film can never decide what it wants to be. Sometimes it’s a coming of age comedy, sometimes a parenting comedy, and sometimes it opts for pure “Animal House.” Mac and Kelly must be two of the most irresponsible parents in history. It’s a wonder their child isn’t taken away in the finale. Meanwhile Seth Rogen brings his tired stoner shtick to “Neighbors” adding a lot of his usual boring improv without adding anything to character Mac. For a guy who is still very in vogue with younger audiences, he plays the “former partier turned adult” poorly, and can never seem to keep up with Byrne or the supporting cast. “Neighbors” may not be laugh out loud funny, but in its best moments it garners some chuckles, and quotable moments involving the hilarious Dave Franco.