'Neighbors' hits all the right notes

Thu, May 15th 2014, 11:42 PM

Neighbors (Rated C)
Cast: Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne
Genre: Comedy
Dwight's Rating: 3 out of 4
Playful but mature; rowdy but introspective; beer kegs but also breast pumps! A world of contrasts in the new film, "Neighbors" means the zaniest, raunchiest comedy so far this year, is also the sweetest and most endearing.
In the flick, a young suburban couple's life is turned upside-down, when a fraternity moves into the house next door. The frat is well known for outrageous parties that often run all night. Compounding the situation is that the couple has a newborn daughter.
As expected with a movie involving a fraternity -- and in one starring Seth Rogen -- there is a lot of "frat boy humor". That means there is also tons of nudity, sex, adult language and drug use. It definitely deserves its R-rating (C, in The Bahamas).
But surprisingly there's a lot of depth to "Neighbors" as well. It's very much a romantic comedy too. Rogen and Rose Byrne star as the married couple, Mac and Kelly. They are trying to face their adult responsibilities, and adjusting to the impact that a baby can have on a relationship. We also see that Mac and Kelly are quietly struggling with this transitional stage in their lives, and they're actually somewhat envious of the fraternity and their lifestyle. But, while the heart is willing to party, the mind and the body can't keep up.
Mac and Kelly aren't the only ones struggling, however. We see that some of the members of the frat are slowly realizing that they too will have to grow up and grow old. "To everything there is a season!"
All of this is developing in the midst of some of the wackiest pranks and hilarious twists, as both sides declare war on each other.
The supporting cast, particularly some of the fraternity members and Ike Barinholtz ("The Mindy Project") as one of the couples' friends, turn in some uproarious performances. And possibly the best cameo comes from "Friends" alum Lisa Kudrow; every line she utters as a school administrator is a riot.
Nevertheless, it's the lead characters that really deliver the goods.
Zac Efron lights up the screen as frat president, Teddy. He leads the frat into doing some very bad things, but somehow Efron is able to make Teddy remain likable.
Rose Bryne is proving she's one of the most well-rounded actresses in Hollywood. She's demonstrated her dramatic acting chops in her Emmy nominated work on the TV-series "Damages." But she is just as amazing at many different types of comedy.
She stole every scene as a British pop star in "Get Him to the Greek," and was unforgettable as a wealthy, conniving socialite in "Bridesmaids".
Bryne is delightful here as Kelly, in one of the first times I've heard her speak in her Australian accent. (You know someone is good at accents, when it sounds just plain strange when they finally speak in their own voice.)
But the real gem is Seth Rogen. No matter how insane-sounding the plots of his movies seem on paper, Rogen manages to impart a sense of sincerity in his characters, that, despite their marijuana proclivities, keeps them relatable and appealing.
And Rogen's aura pervades the whole movie. You may never have been to a frat party, but it's hard to watch those scenes, and not want to be a part of it. And yet, even the best romantic comedies wish for moments as touching as when Mac and Kelly are by themselves. And their interaction with the baby is adorable.
How "Neighbors" is able to strike this balance between raunchy and romantic is remarkable. It is firing on all the comedy cylinders, and hitting all the right notes.

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