Product Description

Eighteen-year-old Matthew Kidman (Emile Hirsch) is a straight-laced overachiever who has never really lived life - until he falls for his hot new neighbor (Elisha Cuthbert). When Matthew discovers his perfect "girl next door" is a former porn star, his sheltered existence spins out of control. It's "Risky Business" meets "American Pie" (Premiere Radio Networks) in this "titillating, laugh-out-loud funny comedy!" (US Weekly)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8208 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-08-24
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, Spanish
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Dubbed in: French
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 109 minutes

Amazon.com
While it suffered a nearly unanimous beating from critics, The Girl Next Door attracted more than a few loyal defenders during its brief box-office lifespan. It pales when compared to its teen-comedy role model (the 1983 classic Risky Business), but you've got to admit that any movie about a teenager whose new next-door neighbor is a 19-year-old former porn star has bona fide cult-movie potential. To its credit, this rather schizoid blend of sleaze and comedy boasts an engaging pair of costars in Emile Hirsch (as the smitten, voyeuristic virgin) and 24's Elisha Cuthbert (as his sexy new house-sitting neighbor). And there are some good laughs in a script that takes unexpected turns when we learn that Cuthbert's character is trying to leave her porn-star past behind, to the chagrin of her pimp-like producer (Timothy Olyphant, in a scene-stealing role). Faring somewhat better than he did with the Rob Schneider non-comedy The Animal, director Luke Greenfield clearly recalls the turbulence that goes hand-in-hand with being young, horny, and confused. There's honesty and even (dare we say it?) maturity to be found in this raging-hormone fantasy, even if it's partially buried in a convoluted plot that's appalling or appealing, depending on your tolerance for good-natured prurience. --Jeff Shannon

DVD features
The unrated director's cut of The Girl Next Door delivers about half a minute of extra nudity and sexual footage. Without adding anything to the running time of the R-rated theatrical cut, the unrated edition substitutes steamier footage into the film Eli watches while talking to Matt, and removes some digitized bikinis in part of the strip-club scene. (The new cut also has a more threatening scene between Matt and Kelly.) Don't expect to see more of star Elisha Cuthbert, though; she didn't do any nude scenes, as she explains in one of the five scenes she provides commentary for. Costar Emile Hirsch does his own commentary for three of the same scenes plus one other, but he's less insightful and more prone to gaps of silence than Cuthbert. Among the other DVD features, director Luke Greenfield adds a feature-length commentary, as well as optional commentary for 11 deleted scenes, four extended scenes, and the original ending. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews

A teenaged Romp in the Hay
The Girl Next Door is the precursor to the highly successful Superbad. The film has a fomula feel to it. It features the "nerd" trio who seek sex before heading off to ivy league colleges; the madonna/whore good girl gone bad who is the nerd's object of desire; and a backdrop of stereotypes including good looking dumb jocks and oblivious parents.

The film works on a number of levels. The actors all have fine comedic timing, and the plot, while corny, has enough interest and twists to maintain interest. Most importantly, the r factor (drugs, sex and rock n roll) will engage most males 15-19.

A fun film.

What's the craziest thing you've done lately?

Matthew Kidman(Emile Hirsch) is a senior in high school, accepted by Georgetown, ready to embark on the life he's worked so hard for. That is until he realizes he hasn't made any memories, taken many chances; he hasn't done anything crazy lately. That is until Danielle(Elisha Cuthbert) shows up next door, and Matthew gets a sneak peak of her undressing. (subtle, I know)

Danielle teaches Matt how to do important things like ditch classes and sneak into and swim in his principle's pool. Together they are completely blissful, that is until Matt's friend Eli(Chris Marquette) shows him a pornographic film which seems to be starring Danielle.

Of course the idea of his sweet girlfriend being a porn star is just unbearable, and when he lets the secret that he found out, there's a speed bump in their 'relationship'.(which is followed by a very awkward strip club scene, where Matthew gets a lap dance next to his dad's best friend)

"I thought you liked to rock"

Now comes Kelly(Timothy Olyphant) Danielle's sexy and gutter-mouthed friend from the 'adult industry', who's decided to be Matthew's mentor.("to make sure everything is up to par.")

This film isn't everything you'd expect to see from a film with such a focus on pornography, it's no more explicit then an American Pie film, but it does have some cute elements.

Girl Next Door does some things right; Matthew's perverted friends, portrayal of how the non in-crowd high school kids feel, maybe the downside of being a porn star?

Don't watch it with your kids, or at least wait till High School. (There are worse movies out there.)

Cute
This was a good movie. I have watched it a few times. The girl is hot and is like no girl who ever lived next to me. I will keep it in my collection for years to come.