Neighbors (1981)

Simply Perfect

Expected more

I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

"Neighbors" is quite an odd film. It was Aykord and Belushi's follow up to "The Blues Brothers", but it couldn't be any different from the comedy in that film even if it tried. Where "The Blues Brothers" was strange in places-but easy to laugh at-"Neighbors" comedy comes a place of absurdity most people probably aren't familiar with.John Belushi plays Earl Keese, a straight laced, middle aged man who lives a very orderly and routine life. Sure it's boring, but him and his wife don't seem bothered by it. However, when a very strange couple moves in next door, Earl's life is completely changed in only a matter of 24 hours as he's thrown into a world completely devoid of manners and common decency. Aykroyd and Belushi go completely against character type with Aykroyd playing the party animal and Belushi playing the straight laced one. However, it works surprisingly well and it gives Belushi a chance to show a side of his comedy that wasn't seen very much-dark and strange are the best two words to describe it. In fact the whole film is that-dark and strange-it's never impossible to laugh at, but it's very strange to watch. Probably the reason the film was such a disappointment was because it was marketed as a straight up comedy rather than the dark absurdist piece it really is. That's not to say it's a perfect film, the music is incredibly intrusive and Earl's change of heart towards Vic and Ramona feels a little abrupt. But, for the most part, the film works on a lot of levels. The comedy is very intriguing, the acting is surprisingly good and the overall feel of the film is very unique. It's a film worth seeing, maybe not one that's on repeat, but one that's occasionally put on when you need a bit of dark escapism.

Haven't seen this film since I saw it in the theatre in 1981 when it first came out. The only thing I remembered was Ramona saying "You ball in the corner pocket." I don't know why this film got bad reviews. I got a real kick out of it and I also did the second time when I found in on DVD just the other day. I thought the whole story line was so ridiculous that I found it very entertaining. The whole cast was great. Cathy Moriarty was terrific as Ramona, and she was only 21 years old at the time. Did anyone else notice that Earl's entire frame of mind changed every time the power lines shorted out? The film never explains Vic and Ramona. Who were they? At one point Vic tells Earl she's bought and paid for and he can have her. What's up with that? Either way I liked it. Just an absurd comedy. A great watch.!

John was such a great actor on this, I'm really devastated that he is not with us today and didn't do more movies. I really liked his role as a serious quiet guy who is easily irritated by the neighbors next door. Believe me, I'm pretty sure we all have those types of people living next door to us haha!It was so odd to see Dan Aykroyd with Blondish hair. I'm normally use to seeing him always with brown hair in most of his films. I kinda did figure out that he had blue contacts instead of his usual brown eyes. They were stronger when he was talking on the phone. I say they hurt!Cathy Moriarty was such a blonde bombshell in this film. She looked like a sexy Grace Kelly trying to get at John Belushi's character. They should've been in bed together and I wanted this right from the start! I love this movie, I wish that Belushi and Akyroyd would do more if Belushi didn't unfortunately too soon. They were such a great team and they will always be the Blues Brothers that I always look up to!RIP Belushi <3 <3 <3

NEIGHBORS is directed by John G. Avildsen and based loosely on a novel by Thomas Berger. This will be John Belushi's last movie before his untimely death. And he gets to share the screen with Saturday Night Live pal Dan Aykroyd.Earl Keese(Belushi)lives a quiet, close to mundane life with his wife, Enid(Kathryn Walker)and their daughter, Elaine(Lauren-Marie Taylor). More or less happy. Earl's whole routine in his quiet and calm neighborhood is in for a major disruption when loud, obnoxious and freeloading Vic(Aykroyd)and his sexpot wife, Ramona(Cathy Moriarty)buy the house next door. Go ahead and accept it; there goes the neighborhood. The Keese family minding their p's and q's, while the suburb disintegrates before their very eyes. Ramona and Vic invite the neighbors over what turns out to be a bizarre dinner date straight from crazy town. Earl will be forced to scheme a way to get rid of the over-the-top couple. The movie lingers on and begins to peter-out! Belushi didn't seem to be 100% Belushi. Aykrod dyed-blonde? But Miss Moriarty made the best of her movie debut...Wow! Also in the cast: Igors Gavin and Dru-Ann Chuckran. A couple of great tunes were featured: "Hello, I Love You" by The Doors and "Stayin' Alive" by The Bee Gees.