Gross-out comedies might be a little old hat in the film landscape today, but they still pull in decent audience sizes and, for the most part, are effective enough to keep people entertained.
o it went with 2014's Bad Neighbours, a reasonably funny effort with the always likeable Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Dave Franco and Zac Efron leading the charge. The premise was as simple then as it is now. Rogen and Byrne are a married couple with a second child on the way who have managed to sell their home. With the house beside them empty of a fraternity, life's returned to a degree of normality. Newcomer Chloe Moretz has just joined the local college and, after seeing what life is like with the current sororities - embodied by the blandly perfect Selena Gomez and her vegan-free, all-white sisters - decides to set up her own with the help of Beanie Feldstein and Kiersey Clemons. Zac Efron, meanwhile, feels increasingly devalued as Dave Franco is now engaged and wants him to move out. Turning up at his old frat house, he meets Moretz and co. and agrees to help them set up their sorority and mentor them. Efron's return, of course, is noticed by Rogen and Byrne and so the story begins.
here's a surprisingly progressive bent to the story that looks at just how messed up the Greek system is in American colleges. In fact, the opening scene informs us that only male fraternities are allowed throw parties and the ones shown in the film are just awful; signs reading NO MEANS YES and neon phallus pointing towards the bedroom. When Moretz's sorority kicks off, they host a Feminist Icon Party with Efron in drag as Future President Hillary Clinton. It's good to see that the comedy is aimed in the right direction instead of resorting the usual tripe from these kind of gross-out comedies. The script, as well, zips along at a decent pace and no one comedic setpiece is overplayed. There's enough good jokes to keep the pace moving solidly along and at just over 93 minutes, it's pleasantly brief.
verall, Bad Neighbours 2 is an entertaining sequel with a good few laughs throughout. As good as the first one, essentially.