From beer, bongs, and beerbongs to real issues, this movie has it all

Kaitlyn Turner Staff Writer

Neighbors,’ from the director of ‘Forgetting Sarah Marshall,’ leaves little to be desired. From the college parties to middle-aged problems and more, this movie gives viewers not only plenty of laughs, but a surprisingly realistic view of life.

Starring Seth Rogan and Rose Byrne as Mac and Kelly Radner, ‘Neighbors’ starts with a 30-something-year-old couple stuck in the everyday rut of a little suburban house, station wagon, a 9-to-5 job, and a newborn baby. This rut even carries over into their sex life, where Kelly won’t even take her shirt off during intercourse, and they stop mid-way because their daughter Stella was watching Daddy take Mommy to “Bonertown.”

The Radners are thrilled when they see a gay couple with an infant checking out the house next-door. A few days later though, they are less than pleased to find that instead of the “cute gay couple,” the house next-door has been occupied by Delta Psi Beta, a college frat led by the gorgeous and muscular Teddy Sanders, played by Zac Efron, and his second-in-command Pete, played by Dave Franco.

On the first night in their new neighborhood, Delta Psi Beta throws a huge party and the Radners come over to request that they “keep it down,” only to be invited in and spend the remainder of the night partying with people 10 years younger than them.

The night goes smoothly and the neighbors are shaping up to have a great relationship, complete with walkie-talkies. At least until the next night, when the Radners call Sanders to ask him to keep it down and their calls get ignored. They end up calling the police, and when the cop tells Sanders that the Radners called them in, he feels betrayed. This betrayal leads to a series of hilarious pranks including burst pipes, giant dildos, and airbags.

This movie is filled with enough laughs to keep viewers satisfied for days. As usual, Seth Rogan plays a giant man-child, but instead of being the stereotypical nagging wife, Rose Byrne is equally immature and crazy, which is a very refreshing twist.

Behind all of the partying comes a deeper story; something that this movie did without making it seem like a sudden random change of pace. The first real issue it deals with is the fear of being that boring couple who has a kid and lives a boring and cliché life, never to have fun again. The fraternity next-door, although annoying, provided the fun needed to show the Radners that even though they’re parents, they don’t have to be only that, and can still lead an exciting life, whether that be with their friends or in the bedroom.

The other big real issue that ‘Neighbors’ dealt with so well was the fear of “what’s after college?” Teddy, the president of Delta Psi Beta, spent his four years in college partying, and his biggest worry was throwing a party that would go down in history. However, at a job fair at the end of his senior year, he found that there was absolutely no way that he was going to get hired anywhere with his low GPA. This reality shock was a very real thing that happens to lots of college students who blow their four years drinking, smoking, and doing who knows what else. It added some value to the movie that transcended the comedic bounds that were to be expected.

Overall, ‘Neighbors’ was both extremely funny and surprisingly real. It exceeded all expectations with its great acting, humor, and surprisingly substantial storyline. I give it 4/5 stars.