February 22, 2021

'Neighbors'

The Ringer's Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Chris Ryan politely request that the guys at Sigma Nu keep it down as they revisit the 2014 comedy 'Neighbors,' starring Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron, and Dave Franco.

Movie poster

Cast

Seth Rogen as Mac Radner

Rose Byrne as Kelly Radner

Zac Efron as Teddy Sanders

Dave Franco as Pete Regazolli

Lisa Kudrow as Dean Carol Gladstone

Notes

  • $18 million budget, made $270.5 million worldwide; $49 million opening weekend – third highest U.S. opening for a non-sequel R-rated comedy.
  • Bill frames this as possibly 'the last funny movie comedy ever' – the 2010-2014 run of great R-rated comedies before the genre died.
  • Sean calls it 'the end of the Apatovian moment' – the manchild generation grew up.
  • Originally called 'Townies'; the wife role initially wasn't in the script – Rogen's actual wife suggested expanding it.
  • Rogen and Efron took pay cuts to get the movie made.
  • Extended discussion comparing Efron's career trajectory to Tom Cruise – consensus is he could have been '21st century Tom Cruise' but didn't build strategically.

Categories

Most re-watchable scene
  • Going to the first party and getting sucked in – the 'Who's 'Batman'?' conversation between Rogen and Efron (Sean's pick).
  • The 'keep it down' rehearsal scene leading into the first party (Chris's pick).
  • Ike Barinholtz introduced in the office / possible Prince concert / 'bring the baby' scene (Bill's pick).
  • The Robert De Niro party.
  • The final Abercrombie & Fitch scene (completely improvised).
  • The hungover breastfeeding scene.
What aged the best?
  • The couple's chemistry between Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne – could have gone wrong in wrong hands.
  • Rose Byrne's natural Australian accent being used – she's funnier because she doesn't have to worry about American accent (Chris's pick).
  • Dave Franco's intentional boners gag (done three times, hilarious every time).
  • The stunt casting of Christopher Mintz-Plasse ('McLovin') – heavier, grown up.
  • The opening scene – 'I'm taking you to Bonertown, bitch' / 'Don't call me bitch'.
  • The airbag gimmick.
  • The soundtrack – Missy Elliott, Flo Rida, Kesha, Icona Pop.
What aged the worst?
  • 'Neighbors' 2 (2016) being horrible – same team, only two years later, one of the biggest quality drop-offs from sequel to original.
  • The N-word usage during the Obama impersonation scene – 'legitimately shocking' even for 2014.
  • The sex scene where the frat guys watch through the window – too much of Seth Rogen's body.
  • Bill predicts the fraternity hazing / 'Assjuice' character will eventually get the movie 'canceled'.
Casting what-ifs
  • Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally were in the movie but got cut – supposed to play Christopher Mintz-Plasse's parents.
  • The hosts think the movie is really well cast otherwise.
Over-acting award

Carla Gallo – 'she's kind of always doing that, but it's pretty much always funny'; the zoom call scene about the Prince concert.

Best "that guy"
  • Lisa Kudrow as the dean – 'she's basically playing Phoebe as a dean' (Bill's pick).
  • Jason Mantzoukas (Sean's pick).
  • Brian Huskey (Seth Rogen's boss).
  • Hannibal Buress as the cop; Randall Park as the guy at the job fair.
Re-casting couch
  • Bill says the movie is really well cast; only on the fence about Carla Gallo.
  • Seth Rogen really pushed for Dave Franco to get the role.
Half-assed (internet) research
  • Originally about Rogen being a student in a frat (too similar to 'Old School'), changed to him and his wife.
  • The two houses are in the West Adams district of Los Angeles.
  • Film originally called 'Townies'.
  • The first sex scene with the baby – the baby kept turning around so they ad-libbed the whole thing.
  • The final Abercrombie & Fitch scene was completely improvised.
Apex Mountain
  • Zac Efron – Bill says yes; coming out of this he thought a bunch of stuff was going to happen.
  • Abercrombie & Fitch (in movies) – yes; 'When has it ever been in a better scene than that?'
  • Airbags in movies – Chris argues apex mountain; Sean counters with 'Dumb and Dumber'.
  • Nicholas Stoller – yes, probably.
  • Seth Rogen – debated; the earlier 'Superbad'/'Knocked Up'/'Pineapple Express' run was bigger for clout.
  • Frat movies – Animal House is still the winner.
Picking nits
  • Why didn't any of the other neighbors complain? Where were the other neighbors?
  • Wouldn't you spend real jail time for a party that led to fireworks being shot into a cop car?
  • Bill doesn't like the title 'Neighbors' – seems too easy/generic.
Sequel, prequel, prestige TV or untouchable?

No, but Chris says they're due for a college comedy Netflix show.

(Probably) unanswerable questions
  • What state is Braxton University in? Bill thinks California.
  • Is Braxton a Division 1 school? Chris: absolutely not – the frat runs the campus, which wouldn't happen at a D1 school.
What memorabilia would you want (or not want!) from the movie?
  • A Braxton University sweatshirt – 'I would actually wear that' (Bill).
  • Dave Franco's 'Fockers' outfit from the De Niro party – the taxi driver mohawk costume (Chris).
Who won the movie?
  • Rose Byrne – unanimous; 'That role could have gone wrong with so many different actresses'.
  • Sean also credits the screenwriters (Andrew Cohen and Brendan O'Brien) as winners of the pod.