Funny, Yet Forgettable

Rating: 6/10 (18 September 2004)

The movie is good or at least not bad. It could've been much better though, if not for the stupid story. It is really silly. There are a lot of dumb, but funny movies out there, but this one had potential. I mean, a high school graduate falling in love with a porn star was actually nice idea. It could've become a very romantic, inspiring movie, but the director apparently decided to emphasize the comic aspect of the picture, thus sacrificing character development & general credibility. The jokes, to tell the truth, are not hilarious either. They are likely to bring a smile up on your face & keep it throughout the movie, but you ain't gonna be laughing your head off.
What saves this movie is outstanding acting! Such a wonderful performance by the cast alone makes The Girl Next Door worth watching. The on-screen chemistry between Emile Hirsch & Elisha Cuthbert is undoubtful. James Remar is charismatic as usual & Timothy Olyphant is almost perfect. The funniest role is played incredibly successfully by Chris Marquette, who at times steals the show completely.
I'd like also to mention the great soundtrack, which totally suites the movie & is I think worth purchasing.
In the end, this sappy comedy is likely to improve your mood & you'll probably enjoy great acting. Yet, this is not what it could be & it's far from being a mandatory entity in one's DVD or VHS collection.