Neighbors was the final star teaming
of John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, as well as Belushi's final
film. Belushi was originally cast in the role
of Vic and Aykroyd in the role of Earl. The two decided to switch
roles just prior to filming the movie. As such, Belushi and Akroyd starred in
this movie acting against type, with loud-mouthed Belushi playing a quiet
character while the meeker Aykroyd played an over-the-top character. Aykroyd wears a pair of sky blue
contact lenses throughout the film that have the disquieting effect of making
his pupils appear dilated all the time. In the theatrical release and earlier
copies of the film this effect is not nearly as noticeable as on HD televisions
today.
Taglines for this movie described it as
"A Comic Nightmare", nightmare being an appropriate word to describe
this film's shoot. This was a troubled production because the two lead actors
argued with the director, the director argued with the producers and everybody
tried to rewrite the screenplay. Though the script is credited to Larry
Gelbart, much of it was re-written, and Gelbart publicly aired his disapproval.
At one point, Belushi, who would die from a drug overdose within four
months of the film's debut, accused writer Gelbart of drinking too
much. Belushi's drug use also caused problems for the production of the film. Belushi got so sick of John G. Avildsen's
directing style that he called his friend and director, John Landis, late
one night and asked if he could take over the movie. When Landis heard they
were already filming, he explained that he couldn't do it, due to Landis
directing An American Werewolf in
London (1981). Belushi wanted either Aykroyd, Landis, or himself
to direct the film. Belushi also allegedly attempted to have Avildsen removed.
According to Dan Aykroyd, most of the
film's production crew was on cocaine throughout filming, with the inevitable
result that John Belushi was sucked back into an addiction he had
been trying to quit. Belushi had been completely clean and sober during the
making of Continental Divide (1981),
which he shot just before Neighbors. The film was profitable because the
studio decided to release the film in the largest number of theaters possible
during the end of the year holiday season before the reviews and word of mouth
spread to damage the film.