Film Review - Bad Neighbours (2014)

Bad Neighbours is the new comedy from Get Him to the Greek director Nicholas Stoller, who continues his streak of making, what should be dull by the book comedies, entertaining by the book comedies.

Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne star as new parents who get worried when frat boys, led by former High School Musical attendee Zac Efron, move next door. Their fears are justified as the house becomes one endless party. The couple decide enough is enough and so the two houses are pitted against one another, each one trying to force the other’s inhabitants to move.

You can guess what the film is going to be like; silly stoner jokes, gross out gags, Animal House like chaos and you’d be right, but the film remains constantly watchable due to a likeable cast and many quality jokes.

Rogen’s character seems to be a continuation of his role in Knocked Up, a man child who has now taken on responsibility due to a having child of his own. He’s very funny, however those who have not found him so in the past are unlikely to change their opinion by this performance.

Byrne, who has become a comedy regular, is the funniest she’s ever been. This is partly down to the fact that she has been allowed to keep her Australian accent. She’s clearly relaxed and some of her (what I assume to be) ad-libbing is a real treat.

However, it’s Efron who steals the show. Playing a villainous student is a great change for him, and his cold blue eyes are perfect for the part. It reminds me of Sergio Leone casting Henry Fonda in Once Upon a Time in the West; he wanted the audience to say “Jesus Christ” as it’s revealed that it is the usually wholesome Fonda who has just massacred a family including children. While Efron doesn’t shoot any kids, he adapts well to playing the bad guy and I hope that there are more parts like this for him in the future.

The strong supporting cast includes Dave Franco (James Franco’s more likable brother), McLovin’ (no need for his real name), and Hannibal Buress (the fantastic stand up comedian and writer).

It released simply as Neighbours in the US, the Bad was added here to avoid any confusion with the Australian soap opera, much like how Assemble was added to The Avengers so that we wouldn’t get confused with the 60s spy show: it’s not as if we would be confused as to why there wasn’t a man in a bowler hat and an umbrella standing next to the Hulk and Iron Man. Please keep the same title in future; we’re really not that dim across the pond.

(Bad) Neighbours is a very entertaining comedy, albeit one that’s not a game changer. You’ll laugh throughout but the next day you won’t necessarily remember why.