Bad Neighbours 2: Sorority Rising (DQ)

Stars: Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron, Chloe Grace Moretz, Dave Franco, Kiersey Clemons, Beanie Feldstein, Lisa Kudrow, Selena Gomez, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Kelsey Grammer

Director: Nicholas Stoller

Like most of Rogen's comedies, this sequel sets out to disgust and amuse in equal proportions. But the 'disgusting' parts are pretty old hat and there aren't enough genuinely funny moments to fill even the film's shortish runtime. Still, it keeps coming at you, like an eager puppy finding nothing wrong in pooping gleefully all over the house.

Mac and Kelly (Rogen, Byrne) have got rid of frat neighbours (Efron and Co) from the first film, and the house next door stands empty while they attempt to sell their own. Empty, that is, until a group of college girls rent the place and move in, forming their own sorority with the idea of having raves that would be forbidden under normal school rules.

Naturally, Mac and Kelly see their projected sale, which is subject to a 30-day 'escrow' period, in mortal danger of falling apart. But stealing the weed with which the girls make their rent money leads to outright war.

Laughs are few and far between within the film's misogynistic content: the opening scene in which Byrne is sick on Rogen while having sex is not only unforgivable but pointless too. And their four-year-old daughter playing with a dildo could be good for a cackle as a stand-alone joke in sober surroundings, but the idea is flogged to death.

There are minor compensations: there's some funny crosstalk (possibly ad-libbed) about the spelling of the word 'sorority', and some chucklesome knockabout slapstick as Efron, who's switched sides. and Rogen attempt to escape from a locked garage. OK, I'm clutching at straws here, and the more serious (and sentimental) side of Efron's shattered hopes and faded dreams doesn't really work before the comedy dribbles rather than pounds to a conclusion.

David Quinlan

USA 2016. UK Distributor: Universal. Colour by efilm.
92 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 1, Drugs 2, Swearing 3.

Review date: 05 May 2016