Written by Logan J. Fowler and Justin Matchick
Release Date: May 20th, 2016
Starring: Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Rose Bryne, Chloe Grace Moretz, Selena Gomez
Director: Nicholas Stoller (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him To the Greek, The Five-Year Engagement, Neighbors)
Pre-Trailer Thoughts: I actually caught the original Neighbors back in 2014 and had a good time with it. However, out of all the Rogen comedies I own on Blu-Ray, it’s probably the one I watch the least. On that note, I don’t find a sequel all that necessary but I guess the original did well enough to warrant one. I’ll just quietly sit here and wait for the only Rogen movie that deserves a follow up, which is Pineapple Express. No, that (hilarious) part in This is the End doesn’t count. -LJF
Pre-Trailer Thoughts: I thought the first Neighbors was a decent take on the typical frat house comedy, but nothing special enough to warrant a sequel. It’s really hard for me to get excited over this when all I see it as is yet another Seth Rogen quasi-stoner comedy. Maybe the trailer will surprise me, but then again maybe this will be yet another instance where the only funny parts of the movie are packed into the 2-minute trailer – JTM
Rate the Trailer: 2 out of 5. I like the fact that mostly the entire main cast of the first movie is back. Also, Rogen and Efron becoming a team instead of enemies should be entertaining. The sorority angle makes sense, but there are a rehash of jokes from the first movie, which doesn’t help. Also, I’m sorry, but the baby in the original Neighbors was good for a solid laugh every time, so the lack of cute infant here is noticeable. Still, I’m hoping most of the best jokes come forth in the final product. -LJF
Rate the Trailer: 2 out of 5. I can pinpoint exactly one single moment in this trailer that amused me at all, and that was a two second shot of Hannibal Buress driving a police SWAT tank. Apart from that one moment, everything else was exactly as I had expected: A rehash of the same exact plotlines and jokes from the first film, but with many of the gender roles switched in an attempt to add another layer to the comedy. This movie, as well as many other comedies involving Seth Rogen, seem to have this weird idea that the mere act of a character smoking pot is inherently funny. Not only does it come off as lazy here, but it’s been a lazy source of comedy for about five years now. – JTM
Theater, Rent, No Thanks, Undecided? Rent. I don’t think I’ll be plunking down a ton of dollars for this upon theater release, but I’m a devoted fan of Rogen, so it’s a sure rental when Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising hits home video. -LJF
Theater, Rent, Undecided, No Thanks? No Thanks. Part of me hopes that this movie is at the very least successful enough to warrant a spin-off with Hannibal Buress’ cop character, who was easily my favorite part of the first one and might very well be the best part of the second. I would pay good money to go see that, but I wouldn’t pay any money at all to go see Neighbors 2. – JTM
Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising moves in May 20th, 2016
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