Bad Neighbours 2: Sorority Rising

With another child on the way, Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly (Rose Byrne) Rander need to sell their house and move to a bigger one. Unfortunately a new Sorority has moved in next door endangering the sale.

So they once again find themselves locked in a generational battle, although this time against the millennial Kappa Nu, Shelby (Chloe Grace Mortez). As for Teddy (Zac Effron), unable to give up his fraternity glory days, he discovers a new way to relive them, and to once again cross swords with the Randers. 

Certainly there's a law of diminishing returns here. This may not be the most unnecessary sequel of the year (congratulations Huntsman: Winter's War, be proud) but it really isn't needed.  There is nothing here that advances the original in any meaningful way, and it seems more a case of getting the gang back together to make a few more bucks. As such the story is basically a retelling of the first, with a couple of key elements changed. In covering the ongoing lives of Teddy, Mac, and Kelly (as well as setting up the Kappa Nu sisters) the script has too many plot threads going at once and doesn't know how to handle everything well. Fortunately they err on the side of brevity, making the wise decision of aiming for a short, sharp film. The downside is that nothing is explored, and everything is a little patchy and unoriginal.

Where Bad Neighbours 2 does hit its stride is in the comedy. The writing and delivery is as strong as the previous film, with some good laughs to be had. It commits to its offensive gross out comedy from its first barf, and refuses to look back. The returning cast have great comic timing, and seem comfortable enough with one another to make it work. Effron's Teddy now strides the line between comedic and tragic, as the man stuck in his past glories, but is still mainly played for laughs. Whereas Rogen  at this stage in his career can play this role in his sleep, but still manages to be engaging. However it's Rose Bryne that really shines, with a perfect sense of timing that matches well with Rogen. By comparison to the old crew the Kappa Nu girls are less developed, and beyond an introduction receive almost no characterisation.

A few laughs, but we really have seen it all before.

Originally published in X-Press Magazine