I did not have high expectations when I went to see "Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising" on the Friday that it premiered. Don't get me wrong, I loved "Neighbors" so much that I have the movie poster up in my dorm room and I've always been absolutely obsessed with everything Seth Rogen, Zac Efron and Dave Franco have ever been cinematically involved in, but a sequel? Meh, all I could hope for is that it doesn't throw a total airball.
I left the movie theater pleasantly surprised at how well done "Neighbors 2" was in that it stayed true to its comedic roots, didn't attempt to simply recycle any tired plot lines from the original "Neighbors," and managed to convey some efficient social critiques.
One of the first things that struck me about the movie was one of its recurring punchlines. When characters questioned why the sisters of Kappa Nu wanted to start their own sorority they would be informed that nationally affiliated sororities are not allowed to throw parties and respond with a confused "Really?" Almost seeming to break the fourth wall, whoever was defending the motives of Kappa Nu would say something along the lines of "Yes, this is literally an actual thing."
Coincidentally, as I was leaving the movie theater, I received an email from the national office of my sorority that invited us to participate in conversations about Greek life surrounding the film as well as to review our sorority's national policies that forbid the presence of alcohol and boys in any chapter house. So yes, this is literally an actual thing. "Neighbors 2" is helping us to bring these conversations about the problematic versus productive natures of Greek life into the public eye.
Another socially interesting aspect of "Neighbors 2" is the fact that Dave Franco's character Pete, who in the previous rendition of "Neighbors" was a known ladykiller, is gay. I think it's an important choice that Pete's sexuality isn't ultimately used as a punchline and that his relationship is not seen as controversial by his contemporaries. The casual treatment of Pete's relationship and sexuality is an extremely nuanced mechanism of character and plot development that isn't exactly common to the "bro comedy" genre of film.
I once tried to defend the original "Neighbors" movie to a friend of mine who refused to see it by arguing, "It's supposed to be stupid! It's just a mindless, fun comedy!" With "Neighbors 2" this isn't necessarily the case. While the film stays true to its genre, and is definitely hilarious, it is far from stupid. "Neighbors 2" is well-informed and brilliantly written with more than the twenty-something male demographic in mind.
Welcoming women into the comedy world as characters with equally relevant and hilarious scene presences and that function as more than set pieces in a comedic film is another underrated strength of "Neighbors 2." The movie takes moments to laugh at its predecessor as the female characters scoff at the validity of the token dick jokes that are so central to male driven comedies. Its self-awareness is entirely refreshing.
"Neighbors 2" does what a comedy should always do best. It holds up a critical mirror to society and allows us to break down exactly why some of society's structures and standards are objectively ridiculous. No one is safe from ridicule in the film as it mocks both the Greek system and its critics, millennials and their elders, those who are out of touch with socially progressive movements and those who fight for the empowerment of the systematically disenfranchised. Here's hoping that "Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising" can pave the way for a new genre of film: the intellectual feminist bro comedy.