A couple years ago, the Zac Efron and Seth Rogen comedy Neighbors proved to be an unexpected hit. The box office wasn’t what was surprising about the film, but its smart balance in raunchy humor and themes about growing up. Of course, the true MVP of Neighbors was Rose Byrne, who has herself become one of the best comedic actresses working today. As much as I enjoyed Neighbors I can’t shake the skepticism over its upcoming sequel Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, which sees Rogen and Efron teaming up to undermine a sorority founded by Chloë Grace Moretz.
Today brings the first trailer for Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising and there’s a strong feel for an ’80s-styled comedy sequel here — whether that’s good or bad depends entirely on personal taste. What is obvious, however, is the fact that Neighbors 2 looks to have more raunch and absurd physical comedy that its predecessor. Not only does the film bring back the cast from the first film, but it also has director Nicholas Stoller returning behind the camera to orchestrate the drug-fueled mayhem once again. Here’s hoping that Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising doesn’t fall into the same trap of countless comedy sequels before it by trying to do the same plot in a slightly different manner. We’ll know for sure when Neighbors 2 opens in theaters on May 20th, 2016.
The official synopsis for Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising:
Returning stars Seth Rogen, Zac Efron and Rose Byrne are joined by Chloë Grace Moretz for Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, the follow-up to 2014’s most popular original comedy. Nicholas Stoller again directs in a film that follows what happens when the will of parenthood goes against the bonds of sisterhood.
Now that Mac (Rogen) and Kelly Radner (Byrne) have a second baby on the way, they are ready to make the final move into adulthood: the suburbs. But just as they thought they’d reclaimed the neighborhood and were safe to sell, they learn that the new occupants next door are a sorority even more out of control than Teddy (Efron) and his brothers ever dreamed of being.
Tired of their school’s sexist, restrictive system, the unorthodox ladies of Kappa Nu have decided to start a house where they can do whatever the hell they want. When Shelby (Moretz) and her sisters, Beth (Kiersey Clemons) and Nora (Beanie Feldstein), find the perfect place just off campus, they won’t let the fact that it’s located on a quiet street stand in their way of parties as epic as the guys throw.
Forced to turn to the one ex-neighbor with the skills to bring down the new Greeks next door, the Radners—alongside best friends Jimmy (Ike Barinholtz) and Paula (Carla Gallo)—bring in charismatic Teddy as their secret weapon. If he can infiltrate the sorority and charm his way through it, the thirtysomethings will shutter the Kappas’ home. But if they think that their neighbors are going down without a fight, they have severely underestimated the power of youthful ingenuity and straight-up crazy.
