Matthew Kidman (Emile Hirsch) is a seventeen year old student at Westmont High School where he is prepared to graduate with honors and move on to Georgetown University for his college career. The only thing that stands in the way of him and his dream of Georgetown is a scholarship, and the speech that will earn him said scholarship. That is until Danielle (Elisha Cuthbert) moves in next door and opens a series of new doors for him. With the physical and emotional attributes of The Girl Next Door, Matthew’s journey from high school to college becomes significantly more twisted than ever before. A series of events will test him and he will be forced to ask himself “is the juice worth the squeeze?”
On the surface Luke Greenfield’s The Girl Next Door is a film entirely about sex. As the virgin Matthew deals with a beautiful woman for the first time, he seems not entirely sure of how to handle the situation. Sex, however, regardless of how relatable it is to anyone who has experienced it, is not necessarily the driving force behind the film. What makes the film so incredibly relatable, beyond the sexual aspect, is that it very much plays on the fears of the people watching. The Girl Next Door plays on a teenager’s every fear (and the fears that extend past childhood into adulthood). Throughout the film viewers become aware of just how relatable Matthew (and Danielle) is when he is introduced to the fears such as people judging him, failure, and not living life to the fullest. While these fears aren’t tangible and can often be overlooked in the grand scheme of life, they certainly resonate with the audience and allow them to understand the driving forces behind their own lives. In a film that is promoted as (and absolutely is) a comedy, The Girl Next Door proves to be emotionally drawing and a very dynamic film which shows how wonderfully talented the series of writers are.
With the important messages lying just beneath the surface, viewers rely heavily on the surface material, which is made up primarily of humor, to guide them through The Girl Next Door. There is a combination of raunchy and dry humor which provides nearly endless laughs for everyone watching (but the humor is obviously not for children). The juxtaposition of a meaningful narrative and tear-jerking comedy makes for an entertaining ride from beginning to end.
Speaking of rides, The Girl Next Door is a roller coaster of events and emotion. Viewers are never entirely sure when the ship has been fully righted or when Matthew will finally have his moment in the sun, but through all of his difficulties, viewers can be sure that the comedy will never stop. The back and forth, give and take nature of Matthew’s relationship with nearly every other character is typically what moves his story forward and leads him down a series of bumpy roads. The portrayal of Matthew is incredibly important, meaning that much of the film falls on the shoulders of the barely legal Hirsch.
At this juncture in his career Hirsch had only played a few roles of real substance, meaning that The Girl Next Door was, in many ways, his big break. His ability to reach viewers in every facet of the film brings all aspects of the film together and proves that he was the right choice for the film’s lead role. With so many moving parts: an inspirational narrative, laugh-out-loud humor, and a series of young, talented cast members, The Girl Next Door delivers in nearly every way possible. Viewers are surely in for the time of their lives and have the potential to learn a few things about life and themselves along the way. There are so many aspects of the film to love that it seems impossible for viewers not to find something to enjoy.
Directed by Luke Greenfield. Written by David Wagner, Brent Goldberg & Stuart Blumberg. Starring Emile Hirsch, Elisha Cuthbert, Timothy Olyphant, James Remar, Chris Marquette, Paul Dano, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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