The Girl Next Door DVD Review:

Matthew Kidman (Hirsch) is the perfect student and on the verge of his graduation he looks back at his life in High School and realises that even with all his academic success, he has really done anything. His all changes when Danielle (Cuthbert) moves in next door. Matthew has never seen anyone as beautiful as this girl and after an unfortunate but slightly funny first meeting, he actually starts to hit it off with her. Everything is going great until his best friend Eli (Marquette) plays him a videotape with his new girlfriend as the star but this isn’t your ordinary movie, Danielle is a porn star.

A film about a boy falling in love with a porn star has teen gross-out comedy written all over it but The Girl Next Door is something different as it actually has a story.

Having more in common with the teen flicks of the 80s like Risky Business and anything by John Hughes, this is a well-written sex comedy that has a running plotline instead of an excuse to connect a collection of comedic set pieces together. This is refreshingly different for an American teen comedy and makes for better, more entertaining viewing.

As well as the good script, what makes it so enjoyable are the performances from the cast. There are no real big stars here to grab all the limelight so it becomes quite a good ensemble piece. Chris Marquette provides most of the laughs as aspiring movie director and porn junkie Eli. Paul Dano is good as geeky Klitz, who discovers a new zest for life and a gift that he never new he had. Timothy Olyphant plays porn producer Kelly with just the right amount of coolness and menace. Amanda Swisten and Sung Hi Lee are the perfect porn stars, beautiful, unashamed and not that bright.

Emile Hirsch gets a chance to shine as goody two shoes Matthew. The character is the definition of the A grade pupil who hasn’t had a life because of his studies but it is his transformation from nerd to dude that makes the movie work so well. He doesn’t forgo his intelligence just to fit in he just uses it to better serve his popularity. Hirsch does really well in the role, as he just looks geeky enough to pass as the school swot but he isn’t too geeky as to the point that the chances of him attracting someone like Danielle are not an extreme impossibility.

Elisha Cuthbert is the shining light of the movie however. Fans of TVs “24” will know that the actress has some acting ability, even though the scripts in the programme don’t always give her the best storylines, but her role in this movie should bring her to everyone’s attention. She looks absolutely stunning throughout, oozing sex appeal every time she graces the screen. The good news is that the character of Danielle also gives her the chance to be more than just eye candy, by playing the role as a girl who just needs someone to see her and not just her body.

With a message of embracing life and not been scared of it, The Girl Next Door harks back to a golden era of teen comedies. Yes it does get abit sloppy at the end of the second act but the finale has a good twist with the laughs coming thick and fast. It might be every teenagers fantasy come true but it is not outrageous enough to be too far fetched, which makes the movie all the more enjoyable. Oh and Elisha Cuthbert is gorgeous.

Star Rating = * * *

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Widescreen 1.85:1 Anamorphic with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the transfer is very good. The picture quality is crystal clear throughout, even during the darker night scenes with Danielle gets revenge on Matthew. The sound quality is also first rate emphasising the excellent soundtrack and the very funny dialogue.

BONUS FEATURES

Feature commentary featuring director Luke Greenfield

This very informative and funny commentary comes from a director who is very passion about the project. He reveals that the script was first sent to him in 1999 and was working on it on and off until it finally entered production four years later. He points out the differences between the theatrical cut and the new uncut version and he remarks on where the deleted scenes included on the DVD would be in relation to the film. The director then chats about casting and how good Emile Hirsch and Elisha Cuthbert were in their roles. This is a good commentary that reveals a lot about the filmmaking process and the sense of fun that everyone seemed to have, especially designing the ultimate fantasy porn party, while making it.

Scene specific commentary by Emile Hirsch and Elisha Cuthbert

Emile comments on the scenes entitled “The whole package”, “Bad advice”, “Pool hopping” and “Strip club”. Elisha comments on “Room with a view”, “Pool hopping”, “The whole package”, “Bad advice” and “Sherwood Diner”

Feature trivia track: Revealing The Girl Next Door

Small bits of trivia and insights into the movie appear on screen as you watch the movie.

The Eli Experience (7.57 mins)

Actor Chris Marquette visits the AVN awards and pretends to be his Girl Next Door alter ego Eli, the new up and coming adult film director. He then tricks visitors to the awards to star in his first movie, with very funny and embarrassing results.

A Look Next Door (9.59 mins)

Director Luke Greenfield, writer Stuart Blumberg, producer Charles Gordon, executive producer Guy Riedel, producer Marc Sternberg, production designer Stephen Lineweaver and stars Emile Hirsch, Elisha Cuthbert, Tim Olyphant, Chris Marquette, Paul Dano and James Remar take you behind the scenes of The Girl Next Door. Each of them discusses the story and the characters while we see the very large convention set and its extensive design.

Gag Reel (2.39 mins)

Watch outtakes and gaffs as the cast and crew make numerous mistakes and constantly muck up there lines.

Deleted and Extended Scenes (10.13 mins)

With optional commentary by director Luke Greenfield these sixteen deleted or extended scenes are entitled “Financing Georgetown”, “Making small talk”, “The whole package (extended)”, “First Date (extended)”, “Part of a perfect day”, “This is why I drive”, “”Eli gets excited”, “Boozing and Bonding”, “Give her a throw”, “Off the beaten track”, “”Regrets”, “Village chase”, “Love in the limo (extended)”, “Adult Education”, “Eli’s Q & A (extended)” and “Original ending”

Still Gallery

Your chance to view the publicity shots used to promote the movie.

Theatrical trailer (2.17 mins)

The full American trailer for The Girl Next Door

Inside Look (5.51 mins)

Go behind the scenes of the upcoming remake of Taxi and then watch the trailer. Also take a sneak peak at The Ringer starring Johnny Knoxville.

OVERALL

The uncut version of the movie is just as funny, if not more so than the original theatrical version. When add in a very good commentary track and some entertaining extras, especially the Eli Experience and you have another well-packaged DVD from Fox. This is a must buy for fans of the movie and a very good rent for everyone else.

DVD Star Rating = * * * *

Jamie Kelwick

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