Neighbors (2014), R, ★★★

Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne letting Zac Efron to "keep it down". 

Neighbors. It is a rarity to have a perfect suburban neighborhood because it is common to have a noisy family or a noisy person among the innocent bystanders of any particular neighborhood. But, what about tackling the premise of having a fraternity next door to you? I mean, why not? It is a pretty good concept to tackle with if you have the right people. Therefore, I was pretty much anticipating this movie because of the comic talent that is inserted onto this project. Neighbors is not a laugh-out-loud riot, but it is a solid comedy.

The movie begins with new parents Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly (Rose Byrne) trying to be "spontaneous" by having sex after about six months while their 6-month-old baby girl, Stella, cannot stop watching them. They declare themselves that they are not old by having a baby and owning a house. The parents are bored and want to get out of the house and have some fun when Paula (Carla Gallo), Jimmy's ex-wife, whose ex-husband (Ike Barinholtz) is a co-worker and friend of Mac's, invites them over for a party and suggests to bring Stella over. Mac and Kelly pack everything in for Stella, but they become so overwhelmed that they collapse and sleep. Paula calls them again and tells them that the party was awesome and Kelly is distraught.

A few days later, Delta Psi, a fraternity, moves in next door to Mac's and Kelly's neighborhood. They both observe the frat guys on their porch and they observe Teddy (Zac Efron), the president of the fraternity, by saying that "he looks like something that a gay guy designed in a laboratory". Mac realizes that the fraternity will throw huge and loud parties and he, Kelly and Stella go to their house with shades and a hat to introduce themselves and to emphasize their nonchalance as they offer them weed and to keep it down. Pete (Dave Franco) and Teddy reply that they will respect their warning as long as they promise to not call the cops.

That night, Teddy and Pete address to their brothers that they want to be recognized in the fraternity's Hall of Fame by throwing the biggest party ever. As the party is taking place, the loud music awakens Mac and Kelly. They both go over there again and observes the beer pong and awesome items in there and Pete and Teddy ask them to join the crowd as they drink and celebrate with their neighbors.

Again, Delta Psi throws another party and awakens Mac, Kelly and Stella. Mac calls Teddy ten times and he does not respond. Kelly tells Mac bitterly to call the police anonymously, so the fraternity that it was a noise complaint from them. They watch a police car come by next door and Officer Watkins (Hannibal Buress) tells Mac and Teddy that they received a call and it came from Mac and Kelly. Officer Watkins knocks on Mac's and Kelly's front door and tells them that they know it was them because of caller ID. Teddy feels betrayed by them and that he is "not mad, but that he is disappointed". And, now, it is a war between Mac and Teddy with hazing and pranks. Who will prevail?

Mac and Kelly in a fraternity party.

I was anxious and excited simultaneously going into this movie because I have enjoyed This is The End very much and I like most of Seth Rogen's movies. This movie, in my opinion, has some hard-R raunchiness but it is tame in comparison to This is The End, Get Me to the Greek, Knocked Up, Superbad, etc. I felt like the movie gets started with the fraternity moving because the opening 20 minutes had some chuckles and one big laugh, with the big laugh going to Mac and Kelly getting overwhelmed with their priorities by getting Stella's things together for a party. But, it felt like another movie, but a good one, with new parents adjusting their lifestyle and not become the cool people anymore. That is natural and genuine.

The cast is all good. Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne have funny and terrific chemistry as the mundane and amusing parents. Byrne really provides the charisma as the wife as she is not laid back and strict (there's a bit of that), but she goes all out and joins Rogen for the fun. Zac Efron steals the movie as he plays this jerk who just focuses on throwing lavish and cacophonous events just to tick Rogen off. He and Rogen are just funny together trying to persuade each other to cross the line. Dave Franco is insightful and humorous as the co-president of the fraternity. His Robert De Niro impression of Jack Byrnes from the Meet the Parents trilogy made me howl with laughter.

There are laughs, but from this team, I wanted laugh-out-loud moments, but there are a few, but I wanted more. Most of the jokes (the air bags, breaking the pipes, Mac's strategy of getting the money to repair the foundation in the basement (I will not reveal what they do.)) is funny. Some of them do not work such as the condom joke, the darkened-vein breast gag or a few other penis jokes. They made shake my head in disbelief. Also, the movie is not as narratively structured well, as it becomes a bit episodic. However, the essence of a comedy is to make people laugh and I did laugh, even, the ending was fresh and funny. Neighbors is an all-out war between two people full of pranks and filth that entertained me from start to finish. It is a good comedy to see with your pals from college or old pals from high school.

***