Blu-ray review: Neighbors (2014)

I first reviewed Neighbors back in May 2014 after seeing it at a screening - I gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars, which is a VERY high rating for me for a "frat party"-type movie. Because of that, I was curious to watch it again on Blu-ray and see if my rating held up or not.

(Dirty little secret: occasionally - only OCCASIONALLY, mind you - the second time I watch a movie, I don't like it as much as the first, and wonder if I should have rated it lower the first time around.)

I'm pleased to say I liked Neighbors just as much this time, most likely because it's SO crazy and
over-the-top that it just works. The performances are hilarious as well, ranging from a cameo by Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe!) as the college's dean, who may or may not have a thing for Zac Efron's character, and the other leads (Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne) as the "adults" who really aren't that adult after all, even though they're also parents.

In case you missed Neighbors, here's the movie's official synopsis from Amazon:
By all appearances, new parents Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly Radner (Rose Byrne) are living the American Dream – complete with an adorable baby girl and a beautiful new starter home in the suburbs. Still, the early-thirtysomethings want to believe that they have a modicum of coolness left within them. So when they discover that their new next-door neighbors are none other than dozens of Delta Psi Beta fraternity brothers led by charismatic president Teddy Sanders (Zac Efron), they try to play along and make the best of an awkward situation. But when the frat's parties grow increasingly more epic, both sides of the property line begin to fend for their turf. The neighbors' relentless sabotage escalates into outrageous one-upmanship, beginning an epic Greek war for the ages. Also stars Dave Franco and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.


So what features does the Blu-ray have, you may ask?

• Alternate Opening: I definitely watched this and it was fun, kind of like a prequel to the movie. In the film, the frat references "those fireworks that made us lose our {original} house," and the alternate opening shows exactly how that happened. Recommended.
• Deleted/Alternate scenes: self-explanatory. I watched a few of these, but usually deleted scenes are deleted for a reason.
• On the Set with ... Dave Franco provides a tour around the frat's fundraiser (aka their dildo sale ... ha), and Christopher Mintz-Plasse talks about his special "prop." Recommended.
• Gag Reel and Line-O-Rama: on-set flubs and an improvisational extended scene.
• An Unlikely Pair: The pairing of Seth Rogen and heartthrob Zac Efron
• Partying with the Neighbors: Funny moments on the screen and on set.
• The Frat: Zac Efron tells us more about Delta Psi Beta - current frat brothers, legends of previous Delta Psi members, etc.

I'd recommend buying the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack if you enjoyed the movie the first time, or if you missed it in theaters and want to see it. The quality of the Blu-ray audio and visuals are very good, as well. I enjoyed watching Neighbors a second time and it's a movie I wouldn't mind watching a few more times, as well. 

{Click here to purchase Neighbors on Blu-ray}