Now Playing


Here's a look at the new movie I saw this week.

The Neighbors
Starring: Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron, Dave Franco, and Ike Barinholz
Synopsis: Heading into this summer season, it seemed like comedies would rule the day. Just two weeks in, that seems to have born out. “The Amazing Spiderman 2” won its opening weekend but fell off last week as audiences flocked to see the Seth Rogen-Zac Efron comedy. There comes a point in life when you have to let go of your youth and embrace adulthood. It happens at different times for different people, but one day you wake up and realize your life has changed. That’s the idea at the heart of “The Neighbors.” It’s a funny, charming comedy that has a lot going on. While the central couple is wrestling with their changing reality, they also face the very real threat of a fraternity that moved in next door. Nicholas Stoller, who also directed “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” “Get Him to the Greek” and “The Five Year Engagement,” has a great sense of pace and scope with this film. It builds slowly, maximizing the humor and the talents of the cast and crew. Efron and Franco are great as the frat brothers. For Franco it’s even a chance to play a slightly different twist on familiar characters, as he gets to be a voice of reason at times during the film. Efron, meanwhile, throws himself into the role, which helps make it even funnier. Byrne and Rogen are great as the central couple, too. Both of them get to engage in some wild and crazy scenes, while still taking the audience along with their characters on a journey of self discovery. In the process of battling the fraternity next door they come to realize the quiet suburban life that initially bored them is exactly what they have been looking for all along. Byrne and Rogen have great chemistry in this film, too. They work well as a believable couple, and they accentuate each other’s strengths. This is a movie that works as well in the subtle beats of character development as in the wild and outlandish sequences. And, there are plenty of those as well. Summer is a season that’s usually known for big budget, high-octane action films and over-the-top comedies. If “The Neighbors” is any indication, it could be a big summer season for at least one of those type of films.
Rating: R for pervasive language, strong crude and sexual content, graphic nudity, and drug use throughout. Enter with caution.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:
Friday, May 16 — "Godzilla," "Million Dollar Arm"
Friday, May 23 — "Blended," "X-Men: Days of Future Past"
Friday, May 30 — "A Million Ways to Die in the West," "Malificent"

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju...
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co...
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve...
Read more