Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising Review

Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising is the sequel to the 2014 comedy Neighbors. Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, and Rose Byrne return for this one with the addition of Chloe Grace Moretz. The basic premise follows Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne as they try to sell their house. They find a couple who are interested, but they find themselves in a 30 day period in which the couple finds no problem at all with the house or the neighbors before they buy. At this point a sorority moves next door. This isn't the regular kind of sorority. It's a sorority that wants to be able to throw their own parties, and live by their own rules (since sororities only attend frat parties and aren't allowed to throw their own). Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne then seek help from Zac Efron so they can get the sorority out of the way before their sale fails.

I loved the first Neighbors. It was really funny, well paced, and actually had some heart to it with themes of what it's like to grow up. Neighbors 2 though isn't as funny or as well paced as the first one. That's not saying it is a boring movie. It is very funny, just not quite like the first one. Pacing is another issue since it tends to drag at times. The reason for this though is actually quite surprising. Neighbors 2 is a film that actually has something to say about sexism, and it does really well. It never becomes preachy, and it actually makes some very good points. The way women are treated at parties, all the way to the jokes women can or can't make are things that are discussed here. This are the points were the movie drags a bit though since there isn't a lot of funny stuff going on. Interesting? Yes. Funny? Not so much. Once more we also see themes of growing up. It felt a little repetitive since this was an aspect the first film had explored at first, but the film handles it a little bit differently this time around which is definitely a positive. Another positive i the fact that the film doesn't try to recycle jokes from the first movie (which a lot of comedy sequels do). It actually takes elements from the first one and uses them in different ways.

Everyone did a great job in the film. Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, and Zac Efron have great chemistry together. Chloe Grace Moretz and the rest of the sorority were also pretty good, and they really make the whole sexism aspect of the movie work even more. Every one has an arc here that comes to a satisfying conclusion, which was something I don't believe the first quite nailed. I do wish the film had a faster pacing since it takes a while for the crazy stuff to start happening, and while it wasn't as funny as the first one I did find it deeper (which was a surprise, specially from a Seth Rogen comedy). Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising is the rare comedy sequel that actually works, even if it doesn't quite surpass the first one. 3.5/5