So I wasn’t overly keen on going to see this film except for the fact that Zac Efron was in it which still didn’t seal the deal for me since it didn’t look like my type of film at all. However, all my friends were eager to see it so I reluctantly agreed to come and was so glad I did.
It is not just your average comedy with a bit of romance thrown in but so much more. There are underlying morals such as family and the difference between youth and the older generations which shine through in this truly brilliant piece of cinema.
The story follows Mac Radner and his wife Kelly who are dealing with the struggles of parenthood. There are snippets of them being outcast from their friends who don’t have a baby and trying to get their baby to sleep. There are sweet scenes which show that even though having a baby while you are still young may not be a good idea, it makes you grow up fast and in the end you will be relieved that your wilder years are behind you.
However, all is not perfect since a fraternity move in next door to the young couple and start having loud parties every night. The couple feel guilty about having to moan at their new neighbours but agree it is too loud for their baby and go over to complain about the noise. Frat leader, Teddy (Zac Efron), makes them promise to always tell him and not the police about their antics and invites them into the party where the couple begin to relive their younger days. This only ends up giving them both hangovers and they agree never to do it again, reflecting the difference between young and old today.
The next night the noise is too loud again so Mac and Kelly decide it’s time to call the police after they can’t get in contact with Teddy but the police officer unfortunately tells Teddy that it was their neighbours who complained, sparking off a war between the two. The rest of the film follows the neighbours as they battle it out to make the other move house. Mac and Kelly try and get Teddy’s girlfriend and best friend together to break up the fraternity, hire an out casted member of the fraternity to spy on the rest and report back to them and send a fake letter saying they are allowed to have parties again when they’ve been banned.
Hilarity ensues at every situation the couple get themselves into since every single one seems to fail. Teddy and his fraternity seek revenge through airbags hidden in various places around Mac’s office and home, having constant parties and throwing things at the couple from across the lawn. A final party organised secretly by Mac and Kelly finally tips things over the edge as the fraternity have been banned from holding them and fireworks set off by Kelly out them to everyone including the police. Teddy eventually accepts the blame for the party and the young couple’s lives finally start to go back to normal.
I would highly recommend this film for anyone whether you are a Zac lover or even a fan of Seth Rogen. The film boasts a brilliant cast and they are what make it such a good film. Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne play the couple and the banter between them is fantastic, providing solid laughs throughout. Zac Efron is also very convincing as the leader of a fraternity and the relationship between him and Rogen is very funny. It’s definitely a lot sharper and wittier than your average rom- com.