Neighbors

Neighbors has quietly become one of the more dependable comedies currently available in Australia on Netflix, and in the US on Philo and Starz Apple TV Channel. It says what it needs to say in one sitting, no filler. With 7,337 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. Watch it for Seth Rogen — stay for everyone else around them. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

Neighbors is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate Neighbors from the crowd. A couple with a newborn baby face unexpected difficulties after they are forced to live next to a fraternity house. Seth Rogen and Zac Efron lead a cast with the timing to make it work. It was released in 2014. Neighbors earns its laughs from character rather than situation, which is why it does not wear thin the way pure farce tends to. It delivers reliably on what it promises, which is more than most of its competition manages.

Neighbors is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Seth Rogen sets the tone, but the supporting cast is where a lot of the best moments come from. A reliable pick for any night you want quality comedy without the homework.