The Girl Next Door *** (2004, Emile Hirsch, Elisha Cuthbert, Timothy Olyphant, James Remar, Chris Marquette, Paul Dano, Timothy Bottoms) – Classic Movie Review 4468

Director Luke Greenfield’s 2004 comedy stars Emile Hirsch as Matthew Kidman, an American teen who gets lucky when an ex-porn star (24’s Elisha Cuthbert) moves in next door.

Timothy Olyphant plays her pushy producer who comes between them, but Hirsch triumphs by making a sex education film with Cuthbert’s character’s porn pals.

Thanks to a quirky, funny script (by Stuart Blumberg, David Wagner and Brent Goldberg) and amusing acting turns by the three stars plus James Remar (as Hugo Posh), Chris Marquette, Paul Dano, and Timothy Bottoms and the supporting cast, this a surprisingly enjoyable high-school comedy.

Also in the cast are Donna Bullock, Jacob Young, Brian Kolodziej (as Derek), Brandon Iron, Amanda Swisten, Sung Hi Lee, Ulysses Lee, Harris Laskaway, Julie Osburn, Laird Smith, Dane Garretson, Richard Fancy, Nicholas Downs and Catherine McGoohan.

Hirsch had a body double for his nude scene because he was only aged 17 at the time of filming. Hirsch hesitated before agreeing to take the role. He recalled: ‘I don’t really want to do a teen comedy, you know? I mean, I just didn’t want to be in a bad movie, that’s all.’

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4468

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