Movie Review 128: Neighbors

Hello all!

So I'm gonna speed through this review, not for any real reason other than it's late and I'm a bit sleepy.

Theres really no need to put a spoiler tag in this so I won't!

Movie Review: Neighbors

Review:
Going into this movie I wasn't really sure what to expect. I heard it was better than most other comedies lately, yet it's still Seth Rogen and his infernal lust for Dick and pot jokes. So ultimately this was a huge mixed bag. I enjoyed some of it but others it was just run of the mill 'let's tell jokes' type comedy.

I've become more and more a cynic when it comes to American Comedies. For the most part they have the same jokes. Pot, Sex, Dicks and Gross out humor. Well this isn't really any different. It's very much the same as any Judd apatow or Seth Rogen comedy out there and it makes no real effort to be different. It had plenty of openings for creative storytelling but it insisted on falling back on the same cliche's every time.

Even when the fighting reached a potentially deadly level with the airbags they still just brush it under the rug like it was no big deal. What if the baby was involved in any of these pranks? the frat wouldn't risk manslaughter. 

I'll get to acting in a second but I want to point out that Teddy was one of the least consistent characters I've seen in a long time. He goes from being a nice guy to being a dick, to being cool, to being a psychopath, to actually trying to kill someone to being a cool guy. it's like the writer's couldn't really decide what the character was like so they just threw it together.

In conjunction with that I have to compliment Zac Efron, I've never been a huge fan but he is becoming a damn good actor. (and yes, that body made me question things) Otherwise everyone is the exact same. Seth rogen is Seth rogen, pot and tick jokes included. James franco's less talented brother is less talented than his brother and everyone else is just there. rose byrne was fine, but nothing special.

One of the biggest problems I have with American comedies is they insist on 'setting up' jokes. Like they will pant an idea and drive a whole scene around a single joke. the rest of the scene becomes nonsense waiting for that joke. I enjoy the humor of other countries, like England. it's a more highbrow and sophisticated humor. It shows and makes the story drive the narrative and not the dumb little ramblings of someone who thinks he's funny like Seth Rogen.

anyway I liked parts of the movie but it was just another run of the mill comedy. nothing new.

Final Verdict: 60


And now to get some sleep

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