Every Teen Guy's Fantasy...Almost

Rating: 7/10 (20 March 2005)

For those of you who saw "Milk Money" with Melanie Griffith, this movie runs along the same lines. Basically, you have a beautiful woman with a seedy background who falls in love with your average guy living in the burbs. "The Girl Next Door" takes things down to a teen level though when a former porn star moves in next door to a boy and steals his heart. Elisha Cuthbert (sure to be famous for her sizzling looks alone) plays the former porn star Danielle. Emile Hirsch plays head-over-heels Matthew Kidman. The film teeters a bit on how convincing it is, despite the unusual circumstances. It's interesting to note how Matthew treats Danielle like the sex toy he thinks she is when he discovers her past. I think this stigma or stereotype is probably true for most guys and how they think of porn stars, which makes a serious relationship all but impossible. What is unconvincing is how Danielle goes along with this. But perhaps she's just used to being treated this way even though she clearly wants a different future. I guess on a serious note and looking at the bigger picture, you could look at the whole film and wonder how realistically it portrays a porn star's life. Are there those that want to quit and just can't seem to get out of the industry, either because they are under duress or just don't have any skills...? And what about their boyfriends, husbands, etc.? Do they and should they accept their career choices or is there a better and more wholesome life out there they can help them achieve? I don't mean to sound too didactic, as "The Girl Next Door" is just a love story (obviously a bit complex though). Don't worry about the film being as serious as I am in its description. Plenty of laughs and nail-biting moments are had with a funny and surprising ending. 7/10