Bad Neighbours 2 review: Not much more than a loose assembly line of jokes

Within the first minute of this very patchy sequel, there are gags about vomit, poo, and dildos - and the jokes go downhill from there

Within the first minute of this very patchy sequel, there are gags about vomit, poo, and dildos - and the jokes go downhill from there, reaching an absolute nadir when the used tampons come into play.

The original Bad Neighbours combined its bawdy humour with acute observations about young adults struggling to cope with parenthood, job, mortgage etc. In the new film, the Bridesmaids-style bawdiness is still there but the characters haven’t developed or grown up in the slightest.

The storyline is very similar to that of the first film, albeit now with a pseudo-feminist slant. Mac (Rogen) and Kelly (Byrne) are trying to sell their home and move to the suburbs. Kelly is pregnant with the couple’s second child - one reason why she throws up on him during sex. There are buyers for the house but before the deal can go through, Mac and Kelly have to endure the purgatory of a 30-day “escrow” during which these buyers can pull out at any time.

That is why they are not at all happy when the Kappa Nu sorority moves in next door. This rowdy group is led by the dope-smoking Shelby (Chloë Grace Moretz) and is resolutely anti-sexist.

TheThere are funny moments along the way - the sorority members in tears as they watch The Fault In Our Stars for the umpteenth time, an uproarious slow motion chase scene involving a dustbin bag full of stolen marijuana.

Zac Efron gives an enjoyably self-deprecating performance as the Peter Pan-like frat boy who is incapable of growing up. (Asked about his long-term plans in life, he replies with a winning naivety, “I’ll probably play some games on my phone.”) The film, though, doesn’t amount to much more than a loose assembly of jokes, only some of which hit the mark.