Robin ChooReview: Bad Neighbors
What would you do when your neighbors are loud and rowdy, and moving out is not an option? That is what married couple Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly Radner (Rose Byrne) faces in Bad Neighbors, with a newborn baby girl in tow. They poured their savings into a quaint suburban house, only to find out it sits next to a fraternity house.
Frat houses are notoriously famous for parties into the morning, and president of his fraternity, Teddy Sanders (Zac Efron), intends to keep it that way. The Radners wishes for the boys to keep it down during the wee hours for fear of waking the baby, and when neither can reach a compromise, an inter–neighbor war is inevitable.
As either side plots to make the other submit to their demands by causing misery, each undergoes a journey of self–discovery. Mac and Kelly are stuck in limbo between a carefree life and parenthood, trying to settle into the routine of constant tending of their beautiful child and unwanted coitus interruptus. Teddy and his fraternity of muscular and well–sculpted members will have their brotherhood tested.
Rogen and Byrne exude great on–screen chemistry as they fall right into the role of clueless parents with a brand new tot, trying to fit in (albeit awkwardly) with the next–door kids. Consider it as a step up for Rogen, who’s more accustomed to acting in immature man-boy roles (Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, Superbad). Efron is, yet again, cast as the stereotypical school jock who is the eye–candy of every girl on campus and the inspiration for all other guys.
Bad Neighbors explores the insecurities of adulthood and the struggle to accept parenting responsibilities faced by every young thirtysomething couple. Peppered with witty humor – such as Rogen’s comment on his character’s wife’s alcohol–laced breast milk is akin to a White Russian – and crude sexual references (highlighted by the dildo fight scene) made even more laughable with excellent comic performances of Rogen and Efron, the movie is great to watch with your own bros, sorority, or just your better half.
Rating: 4/5
Release Date: 8/05/14
Run Time: 97 minutes
Language: English
Censorship Rating: R21
Genre: Comedy
Director: Nicholas Stoller
Main Actors: Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne
Photos Courtesy of Universal Pictures