Bad Neighbours, film review: Seth Rogen faces the nightmare next door

(15) Dir. Nicholas Stoller; Starring Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, 97mins

Laurence Phelan
Friday 02 May 2014 10:08 BST
Comments
Growing pains: Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen star as husband and wife
Growing pains: Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen star as husband and wife

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne play new parents who have no sooner moved to a nice quiet suburb than a rowdy college fraternity headed by Zac Efron and Dave Franco moves in next door.

What begins with a simple noise complaint escalates beyond a neighbourly dispute into a war of attrition, the skirmishes of which involve lots of drugs, loud music, shirtlessness, dance-offs, fireworks, condoms, dildos, spy cameras, axes, airbags and bad impressions of Robert De Niro. There is a differently themed and off-the-hook party scene every 15 minutes or so.

Notionally, we're on the side of the grown-ups, but most of the comedy and what little pathos there is derives from the thirty-somethings' nostalgia for their recently lost youth. It's a frat comedy starring Seth Rogen, after all: immaturity is its keynote.

So there isn't a lot of generational conflict here, and if it didn't rely quite so heavily on bodily functions and gay panic for laughs, Bad Neighbours would be downright winsome.

Much like a college education wasted in favour of partying, it's fun while it lasts but gives you nothing at all to think about.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in