Film review: The Girl Next Door (15)

5:31pm Wednesday 14th April 2004

Television's most inept damsel-in-distress, Elisha Cuthbert, bids to break away from her 24 persona by playing a former porn star in this raunchy coming-of-age tale, but like all tarts with hearts, she still needs rescuing, writes Rob Carnevale. The actress stars as Danielle, who attempts to rediscover her innocence by befriending her shy, 18-year-old neighbour, Matthew Kidman (Emile Hirsch).

But what begins as an amusing variation on the American Pie theme soon heads off into wilder territory, as Danielle's past comes back to haunt her, forcing the unassuming Kidman to resort to desperate measures to save her.

The ensuing rom-com thriller is nothing short of a boy's wet dream, an occasionally fun, but ultimately embarrassing experience, that could have been scripted by a member of the FHM fan club.

Yet while there is a certain guilty pleasure to be had in watching proceedings undress, the film lacks the heart of the American Pie franchise, making it harder to forgive its more ridiculous elements.

Cuthbert injects a great deal of gusto, demonstrating some genuine leading lady qualities. But she is ill-served by some of the plot contrivances.

Director Luke Greenfield is guilty of turning what could have been a harmless 90 minutes into a wildly extravagant orgy of excess, with Cuthbert, especially, forced to bear the brunt of awkward situations.

If you're a fan of Cuthbert, or FHM photo-shoots, then this is probably worth a gawp, but ultimately it fails to measure up to the sum of its parts.

Popcorn rating: 1 out of 5