The ‘woke-ness’ of ‘Neighbors 2’

Photo credit:

The second Neighbors sets out to deviate from first’s frat house gross-out formula in favor of a female-empowering adventure. It isn’t a bad idea, but its execution is exactly the half-baked product you’d expect from a trailer featuring a lot of Selena Gomez for a film that had not nearly enough Selena Gomez. Despite the film’s insinuated progressive agenda, fat shaming, light racism, and mildly homophobic jokes abound.

As Mac and Kelly close in on selling their home again (two years later? What is life), a burgeoning sorority led by Shelby (Chloë Grace Moretz) and two pals sets up camp in Teddy’s old debaucherous stomping grounds. Although a major pillar sustaining Kappa Nu is snubbing Greek life rape culture, the gals also like, really love weed. Apparently this leads to some wild parties, thus inspiring animosity among the neighbors. Teddy busts in the scene, too, to play both sides. Hijinks ensue. Hijinks that involve flinging literally bloodied tampons at windows. Yay, feminism!

embed-1
A lot of criticism calls Neighbors 2 ”woke,” a played-out internet term synonymous with “aware.” The flick definitely makes strides in championing sisterhood over romantic plot lines but some of that seems clunky. An early tender moment during which Shelby, Nora (Beanie Feldstein), and Beth (Kiersey Clemons) are bonding, Shelby reveals her so embarrassing virginity. Later on, Kappa Nu themes a party after losing said virginity with no further details (though Vanity Fair speculates Teddy was the deflower-er). What ... happened?

Again, it’s definitely refreshing to catch a mainstream comedy not placing romantic conquests at the center of the film. I also appreciate the outward popularity of pot smoking among the Kappa Nu sisters, especially considering its typically masculine connotations in major motion pictures. (The scene featuring the three main female friends getting high in the dorms and blowing smoke into a TP roll stuffed with dryer sheets made my heart melt.) But Neighbors 2 still inspires some scoffs.

When we meet Nora, an overweight freshman co-ed, it’s as she rushes past a discerning bro bouncer to enter a frat party. Feldstein’s character is reduced to one similar to her IRL brother, Jonah Hill. Nora serves in two senses: supporting role at best, pratfalling punchline at worst.

Rogen nervously cracks uncomfortable Jewish jokes while Byrne sides more with those targeting African-Americans. It isn’t central to the film, but it comes up enough to cast a physical fremdschämen.

Teddy, at 25, is constantly called an “old person.” He struggles finding purpose much of the flick. Everyone around him is enjoying success in professional and personal victories while he gropes for meaning instructing a group of 18-year-olds on how to throw killer parties. It’s a resonating and familiar challenge for many of us. But when it’s solved by (spoiler alert) ascending to a career as a (Teddy’s words, not mine) “gay wedding planner,” that fremdschämen resurfaces.
embed-2Rolling Stone deems the sequel “raunchcom,” which is pretty apt. We see (a presumably fake version of) Teddy’s balls. There’s endless running jokes about various characters blowing or sleeping with each other. Efron can’t keep his shirt on. Babies play with vibrators kinda a lot. And, perhaps most perverted of all, characters drink wheat beer constantly sans irony.

Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising may not be perfect in all its wokeness, but the fact they made a conscience effort to try even a little is a good sign for the rest of Hollywood. And Hannibal Buress gets a cameo, which is always a bonus.

Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising. Three stars. Directed by Nicholas Stoller. Stars Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron. Rated R. Opens today in area theaters.