The Girl Next Door (2004)

Girl Next Door, The

Matinee

I cannot deny that this film has more "that was lucky!" moments and

stilted plot elements than anything recently opening, but I also must

attest that this movie was far, far more enjoyable than it appears to

be. Two burly men seated behind me were muttering as they left about

how they expected it to be some chick flick romantic comedy (why were

they there?) and generally they sounded pleasantly surprised to watch

this movie, and not just because we get to see 24's Elisha Cuthbert

in a thong. 

Starting with a grin-inducing montage straight out of a Bud

Light/Pringles commercial, we meet the apparent love child of

Leonardo DeCaprio and 1980's Rob Lowe, Matthew Kidman played by Emile

Hirsch. One of Matthew's best buddies in this film is fellow

Emperor's Club alum Paul Dano, and porn aficionado Christopher George

Marquette makes three. These guys are well written as a unit of

nerdly friends with quirks and commonalities, and plenty of charm.

Enter the dame, Danielle, (Cuthbert), a former adult film star who

moves in next door and takes a liking to her handsome young neighbor.

More than once, there is distinct use of the music from (or

specifically reminiscient of) Risky Business, much to my amusement. A

series of wacky but sweet hijinks ensue untilŠ

Timothy Olyphant (Go) enters the story. This guy has a screen

presence that can blow away any piddly character who dares to hope to

be as cool as Olyphant's. He brings zing just as the movie starts

getting a little squishy and aimless, and a good dose of comedy and

danger, as he always seems to do as an actor. The whole conceit of

the story is pretty funny, and it winds improbably toward a pretty

goofball ending, but all the principals are so dang likeable and

committed to their parts, you can't help but get caught up and enjoy

it. 

Maybe it's the comparative playing field of the early spring

crap-movie doldrums, but I really did enjoy this film a lot. It's a

fun ride with danger, comedy, sweetness, and a hint of porn. Who

could ask for anything more? Fellas, you get your hot chicks in

thongs. Gals, you get your adorable naked teens, too. A dash of

Ferris Bueller (this time with humility) and a well-timed drug trip,

and it's a pleasant, disposable movie that you might secretly watch

every now and again for years before realizing everyone else does it

too. My rating seems high, I am sure, considering the writers'

biggest credit between them is Van Wilder, and they might have

benefitted from a tweak here and there, but the spirit of the film is

winsome and funny and enjoyable all around, so we forgive a little

"what the - ?" here and there, when the journey is pleasant enough.

And damn if Timothy Olyphant can't make everything better (you might

also recall him as the best part of Dreamcatcher).

-- 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

These reviews (c) 2004 Karina Montgomery. Please feel free to

forward but credit the reviewer in the text. Thanks. You can

check out previous reviews at:

http://www.cinerina.com and http://ofcs.rottentomatoes.com - the

Online Film Critics Society

http://www.hsbr.net/reviews/karina/listing.hsbr - Hollywood Stock

Exchange Brokerage Resource

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X-RT-RatingText: 4/5