Film Review- Bad Neighbours 2

Good comedy sequels are a rare beast. Zoolander 2 fell flat at the box-office, The Hangover follow-ups were not nearly as good as the original, and Dumb and Dumber Too felt the ire of critics worldwide. The problem with sequels in general is that they fail to bring anything new to the table, and the comedy genre suffers more in these types of situations because a lot of the time the plots are so specific that it is difficult not to fall in to the trap of relying heavily on old material. In other words, for the most part, they aren't necessary.

Bad Neighbours 2, directed by Nicholas Stoller, should fall into this category. Set a few years after the original, homeowners Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly (Rose Byrne), who are in the middle of selling their house, must call in their old rival from the original, Teddy Saunders (Zac Efron) to help them get rid of a sorority that has moved into the house next door. The movie does recycle the premise of the last film and does then rely on the tropes that have come before. This is an issue that does affect the film's overall quality, that is undeniable, but we don't need to go into that in much more detail.

The real story with Bad Neighbours 2 is that, when taken for what it is, is actually a really decent movie. The physical comedy in this film is great, particularly in a chase scene halfway through the film. The dialogue is fantastic at times, especially in the scenes where Mac and Kelly are interacting with the buyers of their home. Yet it's the cast that really give this film a boost. Seth Rogen knows how to do Seth Rogen, and while his constant references to smoking pot may grow tired, he also does deliver some of the film's best laugh-out-loud due to his signature sarcasm and undeniable screen presence. Rose Byrne (dodgy Australian accent aside) also brings a lot to the table with her on-point line delivery, while Zac Efron proves his comedic chops once again in a role that fits the former High School Musical star like a glove. In saying all this the film's real star is Hit Girl herself, 19 year old Chloë Grace Moretz. Moretz is the film's emotional centre, playing an antagonist that you can root for as well as against. The Kick Ass star is so energetic that it's infectious, and I can honestly say that this film may not have been as good as it ended up being if they hadn't cast Moretz in this role. A part that could have been vanilla ended up being the film's best character, and this is a testament to the young star's ability as an actress.

Overall, Bad Neighbours 2 is a fine film. While it does steal a lot from its predecessor, there are more than enough fresh new gags and one-liners that will leave you walking out of this film satisfied. It does have its weak moments (particularly the opening scene) but if you take this movie for what it is then I have no doubt that you will get enjoyment out of it. The best praise I can give this film is that it is one of the best comedy sequels in recent memory, as well as being a great summer comedy that you will have a fun time watching. At the very least, it's another landmark in the blossoming career of Chloë Grace Moretz.

Score: 7.0/10