The Girl Next Door: Movie, DVD Review

Directed by Luke Greenfield, written by Stuart Blumberg, David Wagner and Brent Goldberg, 97 minutes, rated R.

(Originally published 2004)

Once upon a time in Hollywood, the girl next door was a beacon of domestic purity. Sure, she was sexually chaste and not nearly as hot as the trampy bad girl down the street. But she wore her values like a badge and she had a fresh, virginal charm that was as crisp as her pleated skirts. She may have had competition, but in the end, she always got her man.
Now, in these looser, post-feminist times, it’s safe to say that the girl next door isn’t exactly who she used to be.

In the new comedy, “The Girl Next Door,” she’s become Danielle (Elisha Cuthbert), a good-natured porn queen eager to quit the biz. For the women’s movement—or for what’s left of the women’s movement—I’m not sure this would be considered progress, but that’s up for debate.

Danielle’s ticket out of the satin sack rests in high school senior Matt (Emile Hirsch), a bright yet unpopular kid who must go through his share of growing pains before he can come to terms with his own unusual fate: The first love of his life happens to be an adult cinema superstar who’s no stranger to, oh, say, several dozen strangers. And how do you explain that to mother?

As directed by Luke Greenfield from a script by Stuart Blumberg, David Wagner and Brent Goldberg, “The Girl Next Door” is a coming-of-age movie that borrows liberally from one of the most influential films of the genre—“Risky Business.”

While that movie looks comparatively tame in the 21 years that have passed since its release, “Girl” is rated R for good reason. It does indeed plunge into the porn business— with all that implies—and as such, it isn’t exactly suited for teens, in spite of the fact that it’s being marketed to them.

The cast is better than the plot, which involves Matt falling hard for Danielle and then, with the help of his two friends, Eli (Chris Marquette) and Klitz (Paul Dano), getting involved with her pimp (Timothy Olyphant) as he tries to lure Danielle back into the business. What follows is a predictable, straight shot to the end, with Greenfield somehow managing to strike a tone that’s almost sweet before he turns the whole thing sour with a handful of final, implausible twists.

No matter. “The Girl Next Door” is a well-acted, adolescent fantasy for bookish boys who, like their jock counterparts, also must contend with their hormones. This is their outlet and it’s reasonably satisfying. Let the boy next door dream.

Grade: C+