“Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising” appears to be the identical twin sister of its predecessor with the exact same premise, plot, characters and director (Nicholas Stoller) as the hilarious original. Even so, the sorority-driven plot manages to showcase the talent of its male stars, Zac Efron and Seth Rogen, as well as funny female comedians like Rose Byrne and Kiersey Clemons.

In each film, a group of wild college students moves into the home next to Mac (Rogen) and Kelly Radner (Byrne), disrupting their lives as they begin a new phase of adulthood. The Radners ask for peace and quiet, but the new group of college students refuses to cooperate. Each house, then, schemes to sabotage the other through a slew of increasingly ridiculous pranks and antics.

The movies even share jokes, with “Neighbors 2” making callbacks to the airbags and celebrity-themed parties of the original.

“Neighbors 2” actually proves to be a uniquely smart, progressive version of the first “Neighbors.” Not only is it funny, but it is often unabashedly feminist.

As college starts, Shelby (Chloe Grace Moretz), Beth (Clemons) and Nora (Beanie Feldstein) are quickly disillusioned by the reality of Greek Life: only fraternities can host parties. Disinterested in what they see as the sexist practices of masculine Greek culture, they quickly plan to start a sorority of their own, independent of the school’s jurisdiction.

Realizing they need help, the girls enlist Teddy (Zac Efron) to mentor their newly formed Kappa Nu sorority. Coincidentally, Kappa Nu’s new house is adjacent to the Radner’s, thus beginning the familiar plot. Ultimately, the girls deem Teddy too old and vote him out of their house, prompting him to re-ally with Mac and Kelly in this ageist rivalry.

However, “Neighbors 2” isn’t advanced (for a silly comedy) simply because it features a sorority instead of a fraternity. Rather, its feminist underpinnings arise through the characters’ persistent questioning of masculine culture.

Why can’t sororities throw parties of their own? Why must sorority girls subscribe to a male-dominant culture and attend fraternity parties? Why are penis-related jokes perceived as hilarious while those involving tampons are considered grotesque?

By challenging these norms, the film reveals the differential treatment between men and women in collegiate Greek Life. While this may sound like preachy feminism, it is actually quite funny. The baffled looks on the faces of Teddy and Mac are priceless when they are challenged on their preconceived notions.

As much as “Neighbors 2” lets its female characters and feminist premise shine, the film’s real standout performance comes from Zac Efron. Leaning heavily into his charismatic, masculine persona, Efron is unrelentingly charming and hilarious. He even offers a touching sentiment into his representation of Teddy’s quarter-life crisis, as he seeks to feel valuable.

While this comedy sequel funny, it is far from perfect. Not all of the jokes land as intended. The sorority girls aren’t as fully developed as they should be. In an effort to keep a short runtime, the conflict is resolved too hastily and unrealistically. But all in all, the film outshines the original, not only due to the movie’s stellar jokes, but because of its dynamic plotline.

**MOVE gives “Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising” 3 out of 5 stars.**