'Neighbors 2' offers surprising mix of plot smarts, character stupidity
Three editors worked on cutting “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising,” so this risque and ribald sequel moves like lightning bolts between moments of abject hilarity and tastelessly funny gross-outs.
The comedy moves so fast and furiously that we hardly notice that its gleeful celebration of dumbness substitutes for the affection and heart it purports to possess during the closing scenes.
But do we really need poignant characters in a raunchy summer college comedy crammed with bongs and thongs?
“Neighbors 2” brings back Mac and Kelly Radner (Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne) who, in Nicholas Stoller's 2014 first film, became reluctant parents railing against the necessity of growing up.
After emerging victorious from battling the rowdy next-door frat house commanded by beefcake boss Teddy (Zac Efron), Mac and the now-expecting Kelly buy a new, bigger house, assuming they have sold their current home.
Not quite. They can't grasp the concept of an escrow account, meaning that their potential buyers have 30 days to back out for any reason. And they'd have plenty of reasons after a new sorority, Kappa Nu, takes over the vacant frat house next door.
So the Radners take on weed-loving Shelby (Chloe Grace Moretz), who starts Kappa Nu with friends Beth (Kiersey Clemons) and Nora (Beanie Feldstein, Jonah Hill's sister) in response to sexist rules that only allow frats to sponsor parties. (The one frat party she attends resembles a scene from Kirby Dick's campus rape documentary “The Hunting Ground.”)
A post-collegiate Teddy, who's still allergic to shirts, offers his support to Kappa Nu after his best bud Pete (Dave Franco) becomes engaged to his boyfriend Darren (John Early), and pushes Teddy out of their apartment.
Yes, Pete's gay, a mere narrative aside rather than a sitcom setup, one of many surprises in “Sorority Rising.”
“Sorority Rising” features a manic “who's got the weed?” tailgating chase sequence that the director claims to have been inspired by “Mad Max.”
Lena Dunham's bit as an avenging Joan of Arc never made it into the film, but three Hilary Clintons and an Oprah did in a fitfully funny feminist heroine costume party.
Yet Teddy wonders how boiling water can make eggs hard when it makes pasta soft. Shelby has no idea what a 401-k is. Ditto for the Radners and escrow accounts.
So, intelligence isn't always a character virtue from summer comedies.
But it is in this screenplay, attributed to five writers who boldly mix rude sight gags (a 2-year-old playing with a sex toy dressed as a doll?) with a thoughtful story about accepting maturity and the drawbacks of equality.
“Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising”
★ ★ ★
<b>Starring:</b> Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne, Chloe Grace-Moretz, Kiersey Clemons, Selena Gomez
<b>Directed by:</b> Nicholas Stoller
<b>Other:</b> A Universal Pictures release. Rated R for drug use, language, nudity, sexual situations. 92 minutes