I’m not going to lie: the first 3 times I saw the trailer for this movie in theatres, I believed it was a car commercial for at least 20 seconds. Each time. But then it would dawn on me that this was a sequel to a movie I thought was okay. I could hardly remember it but was sure I’d seen it. And probably didn’t hate it because vitriol lingers longer than indifference (and if you’re doing it right, love).
So on Saturday night, Sean and I went to the drive-in, where we were forced to 
watch 2 shit movies called X-Men Apocalypse and whatever Divergent one is most recent. And across the lawn, in my peripheral vision, the French screen was playing Neighbours 2. Only I didn’t know what they were playing, I just knew that I’d just seen some chick throw up on some dude’s face (I generously warned Sean not to look). Since I’d already survived what had to have been the worst scene in the movie, I figured, why not give the rest a gander.
If you’re susceptible to vomit scenes, squish your eyes shut for the first 130 seconds. Fight through that and you’ll be won over by a cock’n’dildo joke.
The premise: the old people next door, Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne, are pregnant with their second child and moving on up. Their house is in escrow, so they’re 30 days away from escape. The bad news? Just when they’ve gotten rid of last movie’s Zac Efron-led fraternity, in comes a Zac Efron-led sorority. And is it possible that sororities are WORSE than frats?
The writing on this is wonky. The jokes are pretty solid and I laughed throughout but the script that connects the jokes is a lot weaker. They’re trying like mad to make this the “feminist” raunchy comedy. Did you know that in the U.S., sororities aren’t allowed to party in their own houses? They have to go to frats for that, which is a pretty rapey solution to a shitty, sexist problem. But that’s mostly just lip service. The meat is in the millennials vs. old people situation, even though technically, Seth Rogen is a still grazing millennial status himself (gross!) and Rose Byrne has maybe a baby toe in Generation X. But laughing at millennials is hilarious. The dumb, 
social media-fixated, instagram-obsessed, teenaged millennials who don’t know anything about the world yet. So the old folks are doing what parents do best: stopping young people from having fun.
Sure it’s tired material. But Rogen & Byrne have the kind of chops that make this thing enjoyable. Are the best parts in the trailer? Of COURSE they are. Isn’t that par for the course these days? Somebody needs to tell movie trailer makers that nobody buys the cow if you’re giving the milk away for free. Except me. I love buying livestock. I practically hoard it. I didn’t even mean to see this one, remember? I just got roped into it when I was paying to see two other movies I had no interest in seeing. Wait – am I single-handedly saving Hollywood by compulsively buying movie tickets?
Anyway. Brainless, harmless. Funny in spots. Excellent use of a Beastie Boys song (but I mean, you can never go wrong with the Beastie Boys). And Zac Efron refuses to take Sean’s advice to keep his shirt on once in a while, if that floats your pontoon. But probably not theatre-worthy. You can afford to rent this one later. Baby oil optional.
ASSHOLES WATCHING MOVIES 
I bought the first one, but this time I’ll wait for Netflix. Lesson learned! Efron can take the shirt off anytime.
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Well don’t worry, he does!
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I don’t know much about the guy, but he made me laugh in the first one. (Probably more than Rogen did….)
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I was surprised by some of the positive reviews of this movie. We watched the first – verystupid funny….but this year I’ll take a laugh anywhere I can get one. Netflix for sure. Have a great weekend!
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You could do worse. I just wish that wasn’t the nicest thing there is to say about it!
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I avoided seeing this because I still haven’t seen the first one but it sounds like we’d have been in the same boat anyway because you barely remember the first one. How was Chloe Moretz? I tend to like her.
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Does she always play bratty?
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Again this is one of the BEST BLOGS on movies, EVER
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Aw shucks.
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Not my cuppa, but always a great and funny review.
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I didn’t mind the first one, but will definitely wait for Netflix on this one too.
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Yes, “not minding it” is pretty much an apt review for both.
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I haven’t seen the first one and not sure if will see the 2nd unless I catch it on actual TV.
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It’s not very TV-friendly – they’d have to blur out a lot of nut sack.
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Why is laughing at millennials the thing? Sure, some are stupid, but aren’t the young always stupid? We were stupid when we were in college. Same stuff, new generation.
Still not going to see the movie. It doesn’t look funny to me.
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Technically I think I AM a millennial.
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I’ll watch the 1st and then this one. I can always use a good laugh 🙂
Thank you, Jay!
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yeah…. ill wait to see this on TV… to ridiculous to spend money on… and your right its been done soooo many times. and to think they call Seth old..omg 😦 maybe ive lost track of time.. but isnt he like still in his 30’s?
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Yup!
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I spotted the first one on Netflix last night (chose the Manson Family Vacation) and added it to my list. I remember the general vibe was that there were laughs to be had. Dare sat I’ll catch this one on there when it appears.
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They’re diverting, but they’re not going to be anybody’s favourite movies.
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And we got another loser here… For me anyway. I think something’s wrong with me when movies can no longer take me out of my skin for at least 90 minutes. No relief in sight.
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This one is definitely a rental, but at least it was entertaining!
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I loved the first one and thought this was really good and funny too. I liked how it didnt just aim to be a bigger variation of the first one like most sequels do.
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I wasn’t crazy about the first one so was surprised when they made #2.
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Lately I’ve seen a slew of mediocre films and wondered if I’m also propping up the industry. Rose Bryne being referred to as old can only mean one thing. I’m old, I remember her from Two Hands!
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I was not very convinced of this second chapter. One of the reasons that led me to see it was Chloe Moretz (I will be serious I love that actress). However in the end it turned out to be a pretty good sequel, with its flaws that you listed very well, but that still manages to make you laugh and entertain.
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