The Girl Next Door Review
by Karina Montgomery (karina AT cinerina DOT com)April 12th, 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).
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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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