10. Neighbors (2014)
A group of fraternity student moves in next to a young family and while the two try to get along initially, it becomes quite a confrontation as the film goes on due to the young guys’ constant noise and partying. The film is 90 minutes long and the MVP here for us is Rose Byrne, who shows a prime example performance of how hot women/actresses can also play funny characters. She also got the most awards recognition from the trio.
The movie was well made
This film was one of the big players at the last MTV Movie awards and took home wins there too. Seth Rogen does a decent job too,Zac Efron was fairly forgettable and he seemed more evil throughout the film than his character asked for. We guess there is a reason why he is only starring with the lesser known Franco brother and not the Oscar-nominated James.
The film’s director is fairly experienced, worked on several known films in the past already. Taking that into account, they did a very fine job here. We believe this is one of the best written comedy movies from last year and we’re looking forward to their next projects. Taking into account how the two have been working together for years, we am fairly certain, there will be a lot more to come in the next years.
One of the best parts of this film was that they kept the dramatic moments (protagonists splitting up, a college professor getting severely injured…) really funny too, so this would not become too heavy and actually it took the 100% comedy path and that was the perfect decision.
Good job by pretty much everybody involved. Random side-note: Rose Byrne, who we liked the most here, is Australian-born and there is a long-running Australian series called “Neighbors” too, which made people such as Kylie Minogue known. Of course, the series has nothing to do with this film, just a little snippet of information. Oh and back to this film, we also liked the way they handled the closing credits with the help of the baby from the film.
9. Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay (2008)
Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay is the sequel to the stoner movie Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle. It would be wise to watch White Castle first before getting into this film.
Escape from Guantanamo Bay is as every bit as crude and hilarious as the adventure to White Castle. This time Asian American Harold and Indian American Kumar are mistaken for terrorist and sent to Guantanamo Bay prison. After escaping they set out to clear their names.
Directors John Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg equal the first film by broadening the racial issue. John Cho and Kal Penn return as the stoner duo who escape from prison only to encounter many odd situations that eventually lead to smoking weed with President George W. Bush. Kumar wishes to stop the wedding of his ex-girlfriend, and Harold is along for the ride because getting in trouble together is what friends do best. Rob Corddry steals every scene he is in as an agent who uses racial interrogation, which act as a statement to every racial argument in the film.
Neil Patrick Harris returns as himself. He picks up the duo and smuggles them past a check point where he has visions of unicorns while stoned. He is eventually in trouble at a brothel where hookers try to kill him. Danneel Harris plays Kumar’s ex-girlfriend who is now engaged to a scumbag. It regards stereotypes, skin colour, reputation, position of power, and breaking out of one’s own emotional prisons.
8. This is the End (2013)
This is the End is the strangest apocalyptic comedy one could ask for. Featuring a cast of actors playing themselves as the Rapture has happened and a massive earthquake hits.
Seth Rogen picks up Jay Baruchel at the airport but instead of an anticipated weekend of pot smoking it becomes a visit to James Franco’s massive place where a huge celebrity party is taking place. When the earthquake hits nobody believes Baruchel when he claims that people were raptured up. A number of celebrities fall into a massive hole that becomes the pit of hell while a few selected celebrities take refuge in Franco’s mansion.
From there they struggle to survive as well as tolerate each other as demonic forces ravage the outside. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg do an outstanding job directing as well as roping numerous celebrities into making fun of themselves. To pass time they decide to video a sequel to The Pineapple Express as well as deal with a demonic possessed Jonah Hill in hilarious references to The Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby. Danny McBride is a hilarious steal as the one guy who messes everything up to the point where they stage an intervention to vote him out.
Clever writing make up for the fact that the humour is crass and the religious elements are sure to put off certain viewers. Still, the demonic creatures are a sell. The film makes fun of celebrities or self imposing lifestyles while its references to revelations carry some provocative thoughts that can open discussion with regards to the ultimate end. We loved the idea of all the actors playing themselves. For the most part they play the kind of character that is associated with them, but a bit exaggerated.
7. Knocked Up (2007)
Knocked Up is a straight out comedy with a hilarious screenplay that is filled with cultural references. The premise of the story is that two people hook up one night and it leads to an unwanted pregnancy. Due to the unwillingness of the mother to part with her baby, the two of them decide to give a shot at having an actual relationship which is what we see in the rest of the movie.
Ben (Seth Rogen) is a slacker with no job who hangs around with a bunch of like-minded friends whose only ambition in life is to get high. Alison (Katherine Heigl) is the complete opposite of Ben with a settled life as an entertainment news reporter. Even though both of them cannot have more distinct personalities, they somehow manage to make things work.
There is a wonderful support cast featuring Jonah Hill, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann and Jason Segel. All of the characters are well developed with Paul Rudd being exceptionally good.
The minor hiccup in the movie is the development of Alison who is a contradiction. The story does take a lot of liberties when characters make some terrible judgments. However, as this is a comedy movie, we can cut the filmmakers some slack.
Knocked Up manages to deal with the subject amiably without getting too preachy. If you want to enjoy a few laughs while smoking a “doobie” (we do not promote the consumption of drugs) and see some terrific comedy actors, then this is the movie for you.