Bad Neighbours

Director : Nicolas Stoller

Year : 2014

Genre : Comedy

Rating : **1/2

While 'Bad Neighbours' contains much of the same grotesque, frat boy humour that seems to form the comedic backbone of today's 'R' rated films, 'Bad Neighbours' is elevated somewhat above it's pedigree thanks to the performances and a few choice moments of genuine laughter. Starring Seth Rogen, Rose Bryne, Zac Efron, Dave Franco and Christopher Mintz Plasse, 'Bad Neighbours' tells the story of Kelly and Mac (Byrne and Rogen),a young married couple whose peaceful harmony is suddenly disrupted when a noisy fraternity house led by the dominating Teddy (Efron) moves in next door. While the pair get on with their new acquaintances at first, the solidarity doesn't last and soon the couple stage an all out war against the teenagers who are making their lives a living hell just a couple of feet away from their front door.

As is the case with many Seth Rogen comedies, the humour in 'Bad Neighbours' is predominately based around obscenity, vulgarity and a lot of drug references. This is hardly surprising as the director's previous films include 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall' and the equally annoying 'Get Him To The Greek'; movies which are basically made up of a lot of stoner gags and repulsive toilet humour. There isn't much room for character development in 'Bad Neighbours' and the actors who have proved to be funny in the past are not really given much to do but say one salacious line after the other. However while the comedy is at gutter level, 'Bad Neighbours' showhow works thanks to the performances and various on-screen chemistrys.

While I may not be the biggest fan of Seth Rogen, I have been impressed with his performances in more serious fare in the past such as the hard hitting but weak minded '50/50' and the barely seen romantic drama 'Take This Waltz'. 'Bad Neighbours' is a million miles away from either of those fine films but Rogen still brings something resembling a heartfelt performance to his on screen persona whose likabilty and good nature takes some of the edge of the repulsive and abhorrent penis jokes. Both he and the brilliantly talented Rose Byrne work very well together as a couple who fight to gain back their peace and it is good fun to see them both scheme to get what they want. Zac Efron also does a good job as the cocky and virile Teddy and while his performance isn't like as anything as strong as it was in the fantastic 'Me & Orson Welles' or even the much maligned 'High School Musical' franchise, he still shows strong potential as a comedic leader as well as a charismatic and very watchable protagonist; or antagonist in this case.

Loud, brash and completely out of control, 'Bad Neighbours' is very much what it says on the tin. It's a bunch of immature and childish people doing very immature and childish things to one another and while that might be great fun for some, it certainly wasn't for me. I wasn't bored at any point during the film but I wasn't entertained either; with maybe three or four laughs throughout the entire screening. It's fine while it's on but it is just as forgettable and as bland as the countless other bawdy farces that now seem to make up a big proportion of the modern Summer blockbuster season.