The Bottom Line:

A fairly standard, if dirtier, teen flick, The Girl Next Door is almost completely forgettable and not worth seeking out unless you're seeking disposable entertainment.

The Girl Next Door (2004) I tend to enjoy movies where a world wise young woman introduces a naïve young man to life and love. At the same time, I tend to be annoyed by movies that are set in or near the world of adult entertainment while maintaining a PG-13 rating. So, I had not seen this movie even though it has the basic plot layed out in the first sentence, mainly because it tries the feat mentioned in the second sentence. However, I finally gave in and watched after seeing bits and pieces on TV. The filmmakers have obviously seen Risky Business, as the movie follows that film's structure pretty closely throughout its running time. The story has Matthew (Emile Hirsch) a bright, hard working high school senior about to deliver a speech that he's sure will get him the scholarship he needs to go to the college of his choice. Then, his quiet and studious life gets turned upside down when his next door neighbor's niece Danielle (Elisha Cuthbert) moves in to house sit while her aunt is away. Danielle pulls Matthew out of his quiet, staid world and in effect introduces him to life. He of course falls head over heels for her. Then the big plot complication rears its head. Matt's pal Eli (Chris Marquette) recognizes Danielle as a star of adult entertainment movies. From there the movie gets kind of flighty and a bit complicated, throwing in Danielle's producer/boyfriend, a charming but also menacing fellow named Kelly (Timothy Olyphant), the foreign student Matt's class is saving up to bring to America, another adult film producer (James Remar) and a trip to a porn convention in Las Vegas. And all of this noise takes away from the simple charms the movie had early on when it was just boy learning how great life is from girl, especially this girl, as Cuthbert is delectable in this role. By the time the lead trio of high schoolers is successfully meandering around that porn convention in Las Vegas with no one stopping them, the film becomes a kind of fantasy fable, and pretty much stays that way through the end of the film. It's watchable, but boy it could have been amazing if they'd built on the promise of the first half hour and kept it a quiet comedy-drama of first love. Oh well. Better luck next time, guys.

The Girl Next Door is the precursor to the highly successful Superbad. The film has a fomula feel to it. It features the "nerd" trio who seek sex before heading off to ivy league colleges; the madonna/whore good girl gone bad who is the nerd's object of desire; and a backdrop of stereotypes including good looking dumb jocks and oblivious parents.

The film works on a number of levels. The actors all have fine comedic timing, and the plot, while corny, has enough interest and twists to maintain interest. Most importantly, the r factor (drugs, sex and rock n roll) will engage most males 15-19.

A fun film.

Matthew Kidman(Emile Hirsch) is a senior in high school, accepted by Georgetown, ready to embark on the life he's worked so hard for. That is until he realizes he hasn't made any memories, taken many chances; he hasn't done anything crazy lately. That is until Danielle(Elisha Cuthbert) shows up next door, and Matthew gets a sneak peak of her undressing. (subtle, I know)

Danielle teaches Matt how to do important things like ditch classes and sneak into and swim in his principle's pool. Together they are completely blissful, that is until Matt's friend Eli(Chris Marquette) shows him a pornographic film which seems to be starring Danielle.

Of course the idea of his sweet girlfriend being a porn star is just unbearable, and when he lets the secret that he found out, there's a speed bump in their 'relationship'.(which is followed by a very awkward strip club scene, where Matthew gets a lap dance next to his dad's best friend)

"I thought you liked to rock"

Now comes Kelly(Timothy Olyphant) Danielle's sexy and gutter-mouthed friend from the 'adult industry', who's decided to be Matthew's mentor.("to make sure everything is up to par.")

This film isn't everything you'd expect to see from a film with such a focus on pornography, it's no more explicit then an American Pie film, but it does have some cute elements.

Girl Next Door does some things right; Matthew's perverted friends, portrayal of how the non in-crowd high school kids feel, maybe the downside of being a porn star?

Don't watch it with your kids, or at least wait till High School. (There are worse movies out there.)

This was a good movie. I have watched it a few times. The girl is hot and is like no girl who ever lived next to me. I will keep it in my collection for years to come.