The Girl Next Door (2004)

Director:

Luke Greenfield

Writers (WGA):

David Wagner (story) &
Brent Goldberg (story) ...
(more)

Release Date:

9 April 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Matt never saw her coming... but all his friends had!

Plot:

A teenager's dreams come true when a former porn star moves in next door and they fall in love.

Plot Keywords:

Love | High School | Porn Star | High School Senior | Producer

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Emile Hirsch	...	Matthew Kidman
Elisha Cuthbert	...	Danielle
Timothy Olyphant	...	Kelly
James Remar	...	Hugo Posh
Chris Marquette	...	Eli
Paul Dano	...	Klitz
Timothy Bottoms	...	Mr. Kidman
Donna Bullock	...	Mrs. Kidman
Jacob Young	...	Hunter
Brian Kolodziej	...	Derek
Brandon Irons	...	Troy
Amanda Swisten	...	April
Sung Hi Lee	...	Ferrari
Ulysses Lee	...	Samnang
Harris Laskawy	...	Dr. Salinger
Julie Osburn	...	Jeannie
Laird Stuart	...	Mr. Ruether
Dane Garretson	...	Ryan Wenger (as Dane A. Garretson)
Richard Fancy	...	Mr. Peterson
Catherine McGoohan	...	Mrs. Peterson
Josh Henderson	...	Pep Rally Jock
Nicholas Thomas	...	Glenn
John-Clay Scott	...	Rent-A-Cop
Matt 'Horshu' Wiese	...	Mule
Maria Arcé	...	Chloe (as Maria Arce)
Alonzo Bodden	...	Steel
Ellis Williams	...	Scholarship President (as Ellis E. Williams)
Stephanie Fabian	...	Mina Lopez
Michael Villani	...	TV Talk Show Host
Dan Klass	...	School Photographer
Steven St. Croix	...	Karate Guy in Porn Film (as Benjamin Banks)
Tomas Herrera	...	Film School Student
John Harrington Bland	...	Fan at Convention
Shu Lan Tuan	...	Samnang's Mother (as Shulan Tabish)
Kayla Tabish	...	Kathy
Nicholas Downs	...	Bob in 70's Sex-Ed Film
Danny Seckel	...	Bob's Friend in 70's Sex-Ed Film
Katie Stuart	...	Jennie
Olivia Wilde	...	Kellie
Autumn Reeser	...	Jane
Reda Beebe	...	Cocktail Waitress
Rudy Mettia	...	Limo Driver
Chris Leone	...	Responsible Media Minion (as Chris Verdiglione)
Martin Pierron	...	Minion
Freddy Smith	...	Minion
Ray Mond	...	Minion
Ricardo Amaya	...	Minion
Hector Garcia	...	Minion
Paul Aulicino	...	Parrot (voice)
Beth Buck	...	Attractive Woman at Scholarship Banquet
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Abraham	...	Guy at Video Screening (uncredited)
Ossie Beck	...	Classroom Student (uncredited)
Stuart Blumberg	...	Dancing Guy at the Adult Video Convention (uncredited)
Michelle DiBenedetti	...	Flasher Girl (uncredited)
Bill Duggan	...	Guy All Over (uncredited)
Tara Gerard	...	Tina B. (uncredited)
Charles Gordon	...	Passenger at Airport (uncredited)
Gary Lane	...	Party Twin (uncredited)
Larry Lane	...	Party Twin (uncredited)
Karen McDougal	...	Woman at Las Vegas Convention (uncredited)
Sean Riblett	...	Prom Guest (uncredited)
Mike Sabga	...	Porn Set Video Technician (uncredited)
Soshi	...	Asian Sex Ed. Student (uncredited)
Marc Sternberg	...	Passenger at Airport (uncredited)
Parker Tilley	...	Popular Guy (uncredited)

Directed by
Luke Greenfield

Writing credits (WGA)
David Wagner		(story) (as David T. Wagner) &
Brent Goldberg		(story)
Stuart Blumberg		(screenplay) and
David Wagner		(screenplay) (as David T. Wagner) &
Brent Goldberg		(screenplay)

Produced by
Harry Gittes	....	producer
Charles Gordon	....	producer
Arnon Milchan	....	executive producer
Guy Riedel	....	executive producer
Marc Sternberg	....	producer
Richard Wenk	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Paul Haslinger

Cinematography by
Jamie Anderson		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Mark Livolsi

Casting by
Mali Finn

Production Design by
Stephen J. Lineweaver		(as Stephen Lineweaver)

Art Direction by
Jason Weil

Set Decoration by
Traci Kirshbaum

Costume Design by
Marilyn Vance

Makeup Department
Suzan Bagdadi	....	hair stylist
Karen Blynder	....	makeup artist
Patricia Budz	....	hair stylist
Monique DeSart	....	hair stylist
Mary Jo Fortin	....	hair stylist
Maggie Fung	....	makeup artist
Joanne Harris	....	hair stylist
Paula Kelly	....	makeup department head
Dennis Liddiard	....	key makeup artist
Susan Mills	....	key hair stylist
Francisco X. Pérez	....	makeup artist
Sabine Roller	....	makeup artist
Peggy Semtob	....	hair stylist
Amy Lederman	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Marsha Shearrill	....	body makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Udi Nedivi	....	unit production manager
M. Kent Kay	....	production supervisor (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jules Kovisars	....	second assistant director
Elenie Mansalis	....	second second assistant director
Rip Murray	....	first assistant director
John Tagamolila	....	dga trainee
David Waters	....	second second assistant director: weekly player
Matt Pexa	....	second assistant director: second unit (uncredited)

Art Department
Timothy D. Ackins	....	stand-by painter
Todd Bennett	....	plaster foreman
John Berger	....	set designer
Joe Bergman	....	on-set dresser
Cliff Bernay	....	assistant property master
William Biggerstaff	....	paint foreman
Barry Caraco	....	props
Denis Cordova	....	construction coordinator
Vanessa Couron	....	set dressing buyer
David Fanderlik	....	construction foreman (as Dave Fanderlik)
John Flaherty	....	props
Michael R. Gannon	....	assistant property master (as Michael Gannon)
Rob Garlow	....	construction general supervisor
Bobby Joe Garren	....	greens foreman (as Bobby J. Garren)
Scott Goodman	....	props
Tony Guastella	....	swing
Nancy A. King	....	art department coordinator
Robert LaPrell	....	props (as Robert Guy Liaprell)
Robert Louden	....	props
Victor Mendez	....	set dresser
Michael Milgrom	....	property master
Johnny Morales	....	labor foreman (as Johnny 'The Bear' Morales)
Robert G. Newhouse	....	greens person (as Robert 'Glen' Newhouse)
Cesar Orozco	....	props (as Cesar 'Ces' Orozco)
James H. Person	....	props
William A. Petrotta	....	assistant property master
Frank Piercy	....	props
Natalie Richards	....	illustrator
Charles Righetti	....	leadman (as Charlie Righetti)
Joel Ruiz	....	set dresser
H.W. 'Pat' Ryan	....	props (as H.W. Pat Ryan)
Timothy Sheehan	....	swing
Dan Silvertree	....	props
Brent Smith	....	set dresser
Roger Smithson	....	props
Galadriel Thompson	....	art assistant
Joel Venti	....	storyboard artist
Marla Altschuler	....	art department assistant (uncredited)
Eugene Freiburger	....	props (uncredited)
Sean O'Connell	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Gary Thomas	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Steve Arcabascio	....	cable person
Paul Aulicino	....	assistant sound editor
Bruce Barris	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Eric Bretter	....	sound recordist
Daniel Brock	....	production sound technician
Michael C. Casper	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Mike Casper)
Paul Curtis	....	supervising dialogue editor (as Paul M. Curtis)
Patrick Cusack	....	assistant sound editor
Andrew DeCristofaro	....	supervising sound editor
Michael Dressel	....	supervising foley editor
Christopher Fitzgerald	....	adr recordist
Marshall Garlington	....	additional sound re-recording mixer
Eric Cameron Hosmer	....	sound recordist (as Eric Hosmer)
Robert Jackson	....	boom operator
David Kelson	....	sound mixer
Rick Kline	....	sound re-recording mixer
Daniel J. Leahy	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Dan Leahy)
Steve Mann	....	sound effects editor
Chris Navarro	....	adr recordist
Steve Nelson	....	sound effects editor (as Steven F. Nelson)
Nancy Nugent	....	adr editor (as Nancy Kyong Nugent)
Adam Olmsted	....	mixdown assistant
Kim Secrist	....	sound effects editor
Bruce Stambler	....	supervising sound editor
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
John C. Stuver	....	adr editor
Shawn Sykora	....	foley editor
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer
Wade Wilson	....	sound effects editor
Richard E. Yawn	....	sound effects editor (as Richard Yawn)
Jon Ailetcher	....	sound mixer: additional photography (uncredited)
Shawn Kennelly	....	foley mixer (uncredited)
Laura Macias	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Aaron Martin	....	sound designer (uncredited)
Jason Matthews	....	sound editing production assistant (uncredited)
John Soukup	....	sound transfer (uncredited)
Lisa Varetakis	....	foley editor (uncredited)
Carl D. Ware	....	sound engineer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John C. Hartigan	....	special effects supervisor (as John Hartigan)
M.A. Thompson	....	special effects foreman
Chris Walkowiak	....	special effects foreman
Ron Rosegard	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Akemi Abe	....	visual effects artist
Joe Gareri	....	visual effects executive producer
David Jones	....	visual effects supervisor: Asylum
Patrick Phillips	....	compositor
César Romero	....	compositor
David Sosalla	....	visual effects supervisor
Jamie Stevenson	....	visual effects consultant
James D. Tittle	....	digital visual effects coordinator: Pacific Title
Bob Wiatr	....	compositor

Stunts
Brian Avery	....	stunt driver
Joni Avery	....	stunts
Kevin Beard	....	stunts
Jayson Dumenigo	....	stunts (as Jayson Duminego)
Corey Michael Eubanks	....	stunts (as Corey Eubanks)
Sean Graham	....	stunts
Gary Guercio	....	stunt double: Emile Hirsch
Tabby Hanson	....	stunts (as Tabby Hanson Graham)
Hubie Kerns Jr.	....	stunts
Christopher Leps	....	stunts
Alan Michaud	....	stunts
John Robotham	....	stunt coordinator
Tim Sitarz	....	stunt double
Kym Stys	....	stunt double
Justin Sundquist	....	stunts
John-Clay Scott	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Minh Bahnsen	....	company grip
Dana Baker	....	best boy grip
Kent Baker	....	key rigging grip
Greg Banta	....	key rigging gaffer (as Gregory Banta)
Ken Berkhout	....	rigging best boy (as Ken G. Berkhout)
Eric Betts	....	rigging grip
Corwin A. Bibb	....	lamp operator (as Cory Bibb)
Bill Brummond	....	camera operator
Glenn Cannon	....	additional video
Steven Cardarelli	....	rigging grip
Billy Clevenger	....	camera operator (as William Clavenger)
Dale Cole	....	company grip
Vincent Contarino	....	lamp operator
Colin Couto	....	lamp operator
Scott Crabbe	....	video assist operator (as Scott R. Crabbe)
Chris Cunningham	....	lamp operator
Jose Danner	....	rigging grip
Rumer Darrow	....	rigging grip
Seong Dilg	....	company grip
David Dunbar	....	rigging electrician
David Ellis	....	rigging grip (as Dave Ellis)
Adam Feinberg	....	rigging electrician
Tom Fendley	....	best boy electric
Jay Galbo	....	rigging electrician
Michael Grady	....	best boy rigging grip
Michael Herron	....	additional video
Tony Hibbard	....	rigging set lighting technician
Steven Hiller	....	first assistant camera: second camera (as Steve Hiller)
Peter Iovino	....	still photographer
Alan Jacoby	....	additional film loader
Matt Kennedy	....	second assistant camera
Al LaVerde	....	key grip (as Alexander LaVerde)
Jonathan Leary	....	company grip
Chris Leidholdt	....	company grip
George Lozano Jr.	....	rigging electrician
Richard Maldonado	....	rigging electrician
Daniel C. McFadden	....	camera loader (as Daniel McFadden)
Ken Metz	....	company grip
Larry Michael	....	generator operator (as J. Larry Michael)
George Michela	....	company grip
David Morton	....	gaffer
Dominic Napolitano	....	first assistant camera
David H. Neale	....	rigging electrician (as David Neale)
Jacqueline J. Nivens	....	second assistant camera
Jesse Olivares	....	additional video
Michael Orefice	....	best boy electric (as Michael Paul Orefice)
Derek Page	....	set lighting technician
James Plannette	....	gaffer
Edwin Quijanmo	....	rigging grip (as Edwin 'EQ' Quijano)
Nikola Ristic	....	lamp operator
Jason Selsor	....	rigging grip
Gomidas Semerjian	....	rigging electrician
Victor A. Shelehov	....	dolly grip (as Victor Shelehov)
Russ St. John	....	company grip
Gary Stark	....	lamp operator
Jason Talbert	....	company grip
Joshua D. Thatcher	....	dimmer board operator (as Joshua Thatcher)
Ryan Vanlossberg	....	company grip (as Ryan von Lossberg)
John A. Witmer	....	company grip
Michael S. Endler	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Dana Gonzales	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Joe Hill	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Mark Hyde	....	key grip: additional photography (uncredited)
Jacques Jouffret	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Jacques Jouffret	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Jonathan Sela	....	additional photographer (uncredited)
Mark Walpole	....	first assistant camera: plate unit, Washington D.C. (uncredited)

Casting Department
David Anthony	....	extras casting
Micah Dahlberg	....	casting assistant
Tracy Dixon	....	extras casting associate
Barbara Harris	....	voice casting
Chris Hogenson	....	casting assistant
Kelly Hunt	....	extras casting associate
David Rapaport	....	casting associate
Kimberly Mullen	....	casting: Florida (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Craig Anthony	....	set costumer
David Butler	....	set costumer
Elizabeth Frank	....	set costumer
Renee Madison	....	set costumer
Gerardo Rosette	....	tailor
Hope Slepak	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Tom Dailey	....	assistant editor: avid
William Kruzykowski	....	associate editor (as Bill Kruzykowski)
Sarah Lucky	....	editorial assistant
Ron Orenstein	....	dailies colorist
Jim Passon	....	color timer
Holly Sachi	....	assistant editor (as Holly-Sachi)
Tom Scully	....	assistant editor
Ronald White	....	assistant editor
Lonnie A. Mathes	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Peter Afterman	....	music supervisor
Wolfgang Amadeus	....	electronic scoring mixer
Wolfgang Amadeus	....	music editor
Jessica Clements	....	music coordinator
Dan DiPrima	....	supervising music editor
Chris Douridas	....	music supervisor
Michael Farrow	....	music scoring mixer (as Mike Farrow)
Simon James	....	orchestra contractor
Carlton Kaller	....	music consultant (as Carl Keller)
Michael Mason	....	score production coordinator
Robert Puff	....	music preparation
Drew Sherrod	....	music consultant
Jennifer Stewart	....	music editor
Margaret Yen	....	associate music supervisor
Jane Antonia Cornish	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Brienne Rose	....	assistant music coordinator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Krister C. Johnson	....	transportation captain
James Lowder	....	transportation coordinator
Jim Moores	....	picture car coordinator
Jack Jay Reece	....	driver (as Jay Reece)
John Simanovich	....	transportation co-captain
Morris Aroesti	....	driver (uncredited)
Elizabeth Chambers	....	transportation secretary (uncredited)
L. Chip Crosby Jr.	....	driver (uncredited)
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car (uncredited)
Kelsey Kimes	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
James Abraham	....	assistant: Charles Gordon
Theron Alford	....	production assistant
Spencer Andrews	....	stand-in: Emile Hirsch (as Spencer Jambor)
Alex Barnoya	....	set medic
Elizabeth C. Camp	....	set production assistant
Colleen Casey	....	set production assistant
Jess Cole	....	assistant location manager
Jesse Cole	....	assistant location manager
Jason De Meo	....	production assistant
Michael DeSantis	....	first assistant accountant
Melissa Engle	....	set production assistant
Charles Fagin	....	key assistant location manager
Marc C. Geschwind	....	on-set extras coordinator (as Marc Gerschwind)
Christopher K. Grap	....	assistant production coordinator (as Christopher Grap)
George Haycraft	....	production assistant
Hi-Hat	....	choreographer
Ashley Kravitz	....	research consultant
Steven S. Lee	....	assistant location manager (as Steven Lee)
Lindsey Liberatore	....	assistant: Arnon Milchan
Dirk Q. Long	....	caterer (as Dirk Long)
Harvey Malkin	....	production accountant
Nick Marcou	....	production assistant
Kelly Moran-Brown	....	production coordinator
Robert W. Morgenroth	....	video effects supervisor (as Bob Morgenroth)
Sarah Oakley	....	production assistant
Leigh Paonessa	....	set production assistant
Jamie Pease	....	assistant: Guy Riedel
Nerissa Politzer	....	animal trainer
Canyon Prince	....	extras coordinator
Michael Sandknop	....	key assistant location manager (as Michael T. Sandknop)
Paul Schreiber	....	location manager
Michelle Stevens	....	second assistant accountant
Cid Swank	....	unit publicist
Val Tasso	....	photo double: Chris Marquette
Val Tasso	....	stand-in: Chris Marquette
Mark Thomason	....	stand-in
J.J. Titone	....	production secretary (as Joseph J. Titome)
Marion Tumen	....	script supervisor
Craig Vegas	....	set production assistant (as 'Vegas' Craig Glenn)
Catherine Petra Villalobos	....	production assistant
Christopher Wade	....	payroll accountant
Edward C. Wang	....	assistant: Harry Gittes
James P. Warren	....	animal trainer: birds
H. Lockwood Wasler	....	production assistant
Bryan Wynbrandt	....	assistant: Luke Greenfield
Ray Buffer	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Jason Cardillo-Lee	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jeanine Castle	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Brad Combs	....	executive assistant: Mr. Milchan (uncredited)
Seth William Hansen	....	additional set production assistant (uncredited)
Jeffrey Harris	....	assistant post-production accountant (uncredited)
Mary Ann Kellogg	....	choreographer (uncredited)
Shaun McNally	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Canyon Prince	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Rick S. Sulier	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)
Donna Tegan	....	set production assistant: re-shoot (uncredited)
John H. Tobin	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Gregg Vance	....	assistant: Marilyn Vance (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Regency Enterprises
• New Regency Pictures
• Daybreak
• Epsilon Motion Pictures

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Italia (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2004) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Bontonfilm (2004) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Gemini Film (2004) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Hispano Foxfilms S.A.E. (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2004) (Greece) (theatrical)
• UGC-Fox Distribution (UFD) (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2005) (Argentina) (all media)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2006) (UK) (TV) (BBC1)
• Gativideo (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• PlazaVista Entertainment (2005) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• RTL Entertainment (2008) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing) (RTL5)
• StudioCanal (2012) (Germany) (DVD)
• Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Germany (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)

Special Effects

• E=mc² (video effects)
• Asylum VFX (visual effects)
• Pacific Title and Art Studio (visual effects)
• Picture Mill, The (opticals)

Other Companies

• Air Hollywood  aviation sets and interiors
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Elizabeth Bardsley & Associates  research: DVD bonus material
• J.L. Fisher  camera dollies provided by
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack album published by
• Picture Mill, The  opticals
• SoundStorm  sound post-production
• Tomkats Catering  catering

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content, language and some drug/alcohol use

Runtime:

108 min | 110 min (international version) (unrated version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:18A | Chile:14 | Czech Republic:12 | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Ireland:18 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) (cut) | Singapore:R21 (re-rating) | Spain:18 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #40269) | USA:Unrated (unrated DVD version) | Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Italy:VM14

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Regency Enterprises

Trivia:

During the scene in the strip club when Emile Hirsch is trying to figure out how to smoke the cigar, it falling out of his mouth is an accident. The director liked it so much, he left it in.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Kelly leaves Matthew in Hugo's house, he leaves one of the two glass doors open, but when Matthew is running to escape the house, he bursts through the double doors which now are both closed.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Woman:[voiceover] How do you want me?
Man:Oh, that's good. Yeah. Just, uh... just get comfortable.
Woman:I'm a little nervous.
Man:Nah, you're doing great.

Movie Connections:

References X2 (2003)

Soundtrack:

EVERYTIME I THINK OF YOU (I GET HIGH)

Reminds me of what teen films used to be

Oh, to a neighbor like Elisha Cuthbert. Not that my neighbors are bad. Want a cup of sugar? Just knock. Want help will the ball cock in your toilet? Ring next door. All of this is incredibly beneficial, but oh, to have a neighbor like Elisha Cuthbert!

Elisha plays the 'girl' in the new teen film The Girl Next Door directed by Luke Greenfield (The Animal). Her name is Danielle and she arrives just when neighbor Mathew Kidman (Emile Hirsch) is writing a speech in hopes of getting a scholarship for his portrayal of moral fiber. But one look at the stripping Danielle from his bedroom window to hers leaves every fiber pointing in a different direction.

This small act of voyeurism leads to all sorts of trouble as Danielle notices her admirers' gazing and immediately heads next door to confront young Matthew. The result of their new courtship would lead to public nudity, breaking and entering, skipping school, taking drugs and everything else that we used to brag about without merit in High School.

And just as everything seems to be going extremely well for the young Matthew, one of his geek buddies reveals her true identity, that of an up-and-coming porn star. This revelation comes shortly before the arrival of her pimp film producer Kelly (Deadwood's Timothy Olyphant) who throws a wrench into the infatuational plans of the two neighbors and leads Matthew down a path that jeopardizes his endeavor to win the scholarship. Soon, Kelly and Matthew are attending strip clubs, meeting in Vegas and eventually, the two are involved in a robbery where Matt tries to win the freedom of the young Danielle.

Much has been made of The Girl Next Door's resemblance to the 1983 Tom Cruise film Risky Business. Truly, the comparisons cannot be more obvious. Instead of hookers, we have porn stars. Instead of a house party, we have a prom, and where there is a family heirloom in play with Cruise's film, Hirsch must pull out all the stops in order to obtain a $25,000 bank account that was amassed to bring a Cambodian teenager to America.

But with all these comparisons evident, I enjoyed The Girl Next Door more. The High School situations have been updated, and I believed in how Matthew could be easily drawn into his world of love and admiration, something I didn't feel with Cruise and DeMornay.

Don't get me wrong, The Girl Next Door will not have the impact of Risky Business nor will it be the catapult for either Hirsch or Cuthbert that Business was for Cruise. But it still was a rather enjoyable film. Not filled with situations bordering on the asinine (see American Pie's 2 through 3), The Girl Next Door was a smart film that resembled a John Hughes film of the early 1980's. I enjoyed all the characters from the geeks who are trying to find their sexual niche to the awkwardness and mature awakening of Matthew through the ordeal of following his dreams. Whereas adolescent films recently have skewed into gross out comedy in such entries as The New Guy, American Pie and Van Wilder, The Girl Next Door gives us something fresh, a progressive out of character plot backed by the love of a beautiful woman.

All these funny and interesting struggles lead to the senior prom where the result might seem far fetched, but at least it seems as if the director meant it not to be taken with any notion of seriousness. We understand the good guys from the bad guys and the movie makes no attempts to throw a surprise or two our way. Maybe in its simplicity, it has found the answer to rejuvenating the youthful film movement.

So, back to my original blabbering. Oh, to have a neighbor like Elisha Cuthbert! First noticed wearing pink panties in the 2003 popular film Old School, she is something to behold. But can she fix a ball cock? Don't answer that!