The Girl Next Door film review

certificate_15

THE GIRL NEXT DOOR

Another month, another American High School comedy. But thanks to an above average script and a couple of more than decent central performances, Luke Greenfield's new film is a pleasant surprise.

Matthew Kidman (Emile Hirsch) is a boy with a bright future. He's about graduate from school and has a place at a prestigious University on the cards. But while the rest of his jock and cheerleading schoolmates party the last few months away, Matthew has only his geeky friends to keep him company, and certainly none of the girls in school give him a second look. Despite trying to concentrate on his remaining classes, his raging teenage hormones mean he has only one thing on his mind.

His adolescent fantasies have a sharp reality check when the beautiful Danielle (Elisha Cuthbert) moves in next door. They become friends and soon enough Matthew's kudos increases as he finally goes to parties with a beautiful girl on his arm. But there's a twist. His porn-addicted friend Eli (Chris Marquette) recognises Danielle as a starlet of the adult scene, and soon enough the conscientious Matthew is thrown unexpectedly into the world of adult film-making. Being the golden boy in the eyes of his teachers and parents, this presents something of a problem.

If a director's job is half done by good casting, then Luke Greenfield has lots to be thankful for. Emile Hirsch plays the goody two shoes with just the right tone, and Elisha Cuthbert proves that she has far more talent than she is allowed to show in her recurring role as Kim in television's 24. As the kooky fun-loving porn star she is very convincing. There is able support from Chris Marquette and Paul Dano as the sidekicks, while much of the comedy comes from Timothy Olyphant as Danielle's pushy producer who is desperate to get her back on the small screen.

The gag count is also high, and ably handled by the director. Highlights include a very funny porn fantasy sequence involving Danielle and Matthew's parents, and a running joke involving a sponsored student from Asia threatens to steal the show. On the negative side, the film does run slightly too long, and director's incessant desire to include what seems like every hit song from the last twenty years tends to jar.