The Girl Next Door (2004)

A teenaged Romp in the Hay

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.

October 2, 2008

What's the craziest thing you've done lately?

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.) September 6, 2008

Cute

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. July 12, 2008

F'in Sweet

This movie is great from start to finish, the only thing to regret is not seein more of elisha cuthbert in little to no clothin lol. June 1, 2008

Climax at the prom

Risky Business II? Sure, it's a typical attempt to remake Risky Business, with a young, charismatic young man getting involved with a beautiful, mysterious young woman; however, there are enough twists and turns to keep it interesting.

Matthew Kidman (Emile Hirsch) is the typical over-achiever in high school. He's in all sorts of clubs, AP classes, and never seems to have the care-free fun that the rest of his fellow seniors are having. He's even gone so far as to start a fund to bring a Cambodian, teenage genius to America. His whole world changes when Danielle (Elisha Cuthbert) moves in next door.

In a matter of no time it becomes clear that Danielle is a former porn star - discovered by Matthew's porn-obsessed friend Eli (Chris Marquette) - and she has a world of experience and knowledge that are going to broaden Matthew's horizons on more than one level.

Danielle wants out of the porn business, but her sleazy producer Kelly (Timothy Olyphant) wants the exact opposite. It's soon a battle of influence, as Matthew tugs at Danielle's heart-strings, while Kelly tugs at her through the type of power typically given to those who would dominate over another psychologically. It's only when Kelly gets involved that the predictability disappears. Each and every scene with Kelly is a scene stealer and an adventure. Whereas we all pretty much know what's going to happen in most teen comedy movies, The Girl Next Door gives a fresh take on the genre.

The climax at the prom (pun intended) was a brilliant way to conclude the movie, squeeze a few gorgeous women into the movie (Sung Hi Lee cameo), and provide a combination of comedy and real drama.

It would be a travesty if I didn't mention the fact that the "Eli Experience", the eventual producing empire formed by Eli as part of a whirlwind surprise ending, is clearly my favorite part of the movie. His persona and control of the AV dork "minion", his ability to run with a brilliant idea, his response to learning about Danielle's past, his actions during a porn expo, and his abrupt response to a smarmy question provided tons of laughs throughout. May 27, 2008

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