Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates

Foul-mouthed comedies can be a bit hit and miss. There is a very delicate balance act going on where too much can make it unbearable (case in point; 2013's Movie 43) and not enough makes it just bland. But Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates benefits not only from a strong script of non-stop jokes that all work really well, it also has a cast made up entirely of comic performers that all know how comedy works.

Mike (Adam DeVine) and Dave Stangle (Zac Efron) are two brothers who think they are the life of every party. But in reality, it is a very different story. The antics they think they get up to in their heads is very different to the chaos and destruction that actually happens, which is why their father Burt (Stephen Root) has adamantly put his foot down and demanded they bring dates to their younger sister's wedding in Hawaii. Thinking it's the classiest thing to do, they put an ad up on the website Craigslist (generally not a good idea for anything) and soon become a viral hit. This gets the attention of friends Tatiana (Aubrey Plaza) and Alice (Anna Kendrick), who decide to act respectable in an attempt to impress the guys, but this doesn't last long.

Now I know what you're probably thinking, you've seen the trailer, so you already know what's going to happen. And yes the plot of the movie is very basic, but that's a good thing in this case because there's no complex plot to distract from the jokes. Those are what you're going to see Mike and Dave for and there are a lot of them, with all of them landing. However, these jokes range from walking in on your little sister having an unorthodox orgasm to getting high in front of family members, so if those aren't up your alley, it's probably not for you.

The strongest part of the movie is it's experienced comic cast. Adam DeVine and Zac Efron have an amazing chemistry together and Efron is really benefitting from his recent turn into comedy. DeVine is getting really strong at his loveable goofball too. Aubrey Plaza plays the same dry, acerbic character and at first I found her a bit grating, but she definitely has her moments. The most amazing casting I thought was of Anna Kendrick. She's been in comedies before, but never as a wacky and desperate character and she pulled it off. The standouts in the supporting cast were Stephen Root, who is never as you've seen him before as Mike and Dave's extremely obscene father, and Lavell Crawford, but I'll laugh at him no matter what.

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates is a shorter movie than you realise, but the whole time it's non-stop laughter, despite the low-brow nature of the jokes. The best thing about it though, is that you can just switch off and have a good time while watching, which is something that not a lot of movies allow you to do these days.

Bad Neighbours 2

A logical sequel to the original, Bad Neighbours 2 looks to spice up its comedy classification with touches of feminist commentary and character development (for those returning from Bad Neighbours). Despite not fully achieving this attempted depth, the film feels comfortable enough as a comedy and as a sequel, while still bringing something new to the table.

Bad Neighbours 2 sees Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly (Rose Byrne) attempting to sell their family home a few years after the events of the first movie, when a sorority led by the likeable Shelby (Chloë Grace Moretz) moves into the old frat house next door. Teddy (Zac Efron), who seems to be stuck in the past while his old frat brothers pass him by, floats between both sides amidst a "quarter-life crisis" to create a more dynamic plot, while the Kappa Nu sorority attempts to work outside the normal parameters of frat and sorority life and empower their members.

It's apparent from the start that the film is attempting to mirror the successes of the original while still differing enough to not be seen as a carbon copy, and although the writers weave in moments of uniqueness and difference, the overall plot remains much of the same. Despite the linear feeling to the plot for anyone who has seen the first film in the franchise, the back-and-forth between the sorority and the "old people" (as the sorority coined them) feels fresh enough, with new hijinks and disruption strategies spanning further than just the confines of their two houses. The comedy is as unpredictable and quirky as the first film's, with snazzy one-liners effectively catching the audience off guard multiple times and hilarious action sequences playing on the success of the physical comedy in the original. The film also effectively calls back prominent aspects from its predecessor without feeling forced, including Mac and Kelly's awful attempts at being intimate and the frat's notorious 'airbags' prank, as well as appearances from characters such as Lisa Kudrow's unorthodox Dean Carol and Dave Franco's 'grown-up' Pete Regazolli.

Despite being an overall pleasant comedy experience, the film does have a few discouraging qualities which perhaps take it out of the realm of 'quality filmmaking'. The film has some rather dull portions, with some dialogue feeling forced and cringe-worthy at times, as well as some unnecessary and over-the-top plot inclusions, leading to an unconvincing green screen and an unneeded (and repeated) minions cameo. The film's attempts at portraying more serious issues such as the empowering of women, the struggles of parenting and Teddy's post-college depression ultimately fall short, briefly touching on the issues and making them feel natural to the plot but failing to develop them to an effective extent.

Although sections of dialogue felt slightly forced and unnatural, acting was generally solid across the board, with each of the main cast impressing with their comedic quips and portrayal of character growth. The general production of the film seems sound as well, with director Nicholas Stoller returning with a similar style to the original to make the sequel feel recognizable and comfortable for viewers. The constant use of dynamic shots creates a live feeling to the viewing experience, with fitting uses of hyphy music adding to the party vibe of the film. 

Sequels to comedies are always difficult, and despite following a similar plot to the original, Bad Neighbours 2 still manages to surprise and entertain as it attempts to incorporate some freshness and depth into its hilarious story. Fans of the original will not be disappointed.

Bad Neighbours

There's something about a movie that bridges the divide between generations that I like. Bad Neighbours is definitely one of those films. On one hand it's about growing up, whilst on the other it's about retaining your youth as you grow older.

Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly (Rose Byrne) are a couple with a newborn baby who have just bought their first house. Soon after moving in, the large house next door is also up for sale and after much guessing over who will be moving in. They soon discover that it will be a fraternity from the nearby university. The president Teddy (Zac Efron) assures them that if they are ever too loud, Mac and Kelly should come to him instead of calling the cops and also invites them to party if they ever feel the need. Teddy loses his trust in the couple when they eventually do make a noise complaint and vows to make their life a living hell.

Zac Efron is a true powerhouse of acting in this movie, showing off his range in a variety of scenarios. One moment he is chilling with Mac smoking weed and the next he is menacingly devising ways to destroy his life. He also has some very touching moments when he realises that he isn't as smart as he thinks.

Dave Franco also stars as the accomplice and frat brother of Teddy, Pete. Pete is the more emotionally stable of the two and begins to feel remorse about what they are doing to their neighbours. His relationship with Teddy is hilarious, sometimes bordering on homoerotic.

Both Rogen and Byrne are funny, but the humour in the movie comes more from the insane antics of their neighbours than their reactions, then again they are playing the straight characters in a comedy and that role traditionally doesn't allow for too much wackiness.

The jokes in this movie are fantastic, most of them relying on the generation gap between the two sets of characters and the misunderstandings that this can cause. Some of the jokes early on where Rogen and Byrne are trying to endear themselves to the fraternity are just cringeworthy, but funny all the same.

Verdict: A really funny comedy about how the generation gap can cause wacky misunderstandings. It was great to see Efron in a slightly villainous role.

The Paperboy

Lee Daniels' follow up to his heart-wrenching Precious is set in the south of Florida in the late 60s, during the time of the Civil Rights movement. Whilst civil rights is not the main theme, they do provide a great background to the motivations of some of the film's characters.

The Paperboy follows idealistic writer Ward Jansen (Matthew McConaughey) and his younger brother Jack (Zac Efron) as they try to clear a man who they believe was wrongly convicted of murder. Helping them are Ward's writing partner Yardley Acheman (David Oyelowo), a black British writer, and Charlotte Bless (Nicole Kidman), a woman who writes love letters to convicts. The brothers' father (Scott Glen) is the distributor of the Miami Times in their small town.

The group meet with the suspected killer, Hillary Van Wetter (John Cusack), who seems indifferent to the fact that he is on death row, but maintains his innocence. Ward follows up on every single lead but can't seem to find any solid evidence to say that Van Wetter didn't commit the crime. Regardless of this, Yardley returns to Miami and runs the story in the Times. Van Wetter is let free from prison where he reconnects with Charlotte. Ward, who was mutilated by two sadistic men, and Jack are left to their own devices.

Daniels' does his best with a well-rounded cast. McConaghey shines as Ward Jansen and it is good to see him using his southern accent to use. Efron has come a far way from his High School Musical days and gives Jack a confused vulnerability that really works. The main star of this film, however, is Nicole Kidman. She really showcase her range as an actor. Her scenes with Cusack are, while disturbing, are amazing.

John Cusack has long been a favourite of mine and I was excited to see him in this. His portrayal of the villainous Van Wetter is as amazing as it is haunting. You could really believe that he is a murderous psychopath. This is the third film of the year that I have seen David Oyelowo in (the other two being Jack Reacher and Lincoln) and I have to say that he's growing on me. In each of these movies, he plays vastly different characters and I'm looking forward to seeing him in future projects.

Daniels shot this film in 16mm film and it really works. It suits the time period and the occasional blowout of light makes it look fantastic and real (as well as raw). It was a bold choice choosing this format and really pays off.

The soundtrack of this film is also superb. The use of contemporary soul and R&B music really lent to both the time period and setting.

Verdict: Although the story can be a little lacking at times, the drawcard here are the performances, especially from Nicole Kidman.