Bad Neighbours 2

Bad Neighbours 2 has managed to do what few college-film sequels manage to, which is take a funnier, yet more socially conscious turn for the better. This time around, Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly Radner (Rose Byrne) are expecting their second child and preparing to move into a new house. They have 30 days before the sale on their current home clears, during which time the new buyers can pop in at any time for surprise inspections. Much to their dismay, a sorority moves in next-door, filled with girls intent on partying wildly, like they can’t do at predatory frat parties.

Chloë Grace Moretz plays Shelby, a college freshman who, within her first days on campus, tries to “rush” a sorority only to realise they are forbidden from hosting parties or smoking weed. After attending a “very rapey” party at a frat, she and her friends decided to start up their own sorority, in a house where the girls can have fun safely.

As the Radners try to stop the sorority’s crazy parties, the girls retaliate, enlisting the help of Teddy (Zac Efron), who still has it out for the couple from their troubles in the first film. The plots to get the neighbours out of the way are over the top and silly, but viewers are nonetheless laughing throughout.

Efron’s character sees ups and downs in his own bro circle, and the interactions provide some heartwarming relief. Overwhelmingly, however, the film’s focus is on enduring female friendship. While the effort is by no means feminist cinema, it’s a welcome change to have a big-budget Hollywood film addressing the problem with rape and sexism on US college campuses, even if it does it lightly. Refreshingly, the female leads don’t sit out the raunchiness in order to roll their eyes from the sidelines at the idiocy of men. They drink, act stupidly and join in on the antics, making up the majority of the film’s funniest moments.

The jokes are ridiculous, raucous and at times gross, but Bad Neighbours 2 is a fun watch from start to finish.

Laura Kramer 

Bad Neighbours 2 is released nationwide on 6^th May 2016.

Watch the trailer for Bad Neighbours 2 here: