Newest teen flick offers a break from the norm
By Laurie Lo
March 10, 2004 9:00 p.m.
Looking solely at the premise of “The Girl Next
Door,” it would seem to be treading on well-worn territory: A
goody-two-shoes high school boy breaks out of his straight-arrow
persona with the help of a sexy girl.
Aware of characteristic raunchy requisites for a teen sex farce,
director Luke Greenfield could have easily turned the film into a
teen comedy. But he promises the movie is unlike its contemporaries
for its vulnerability and darker themes.
“I wanted to make it rated “˜R’ not for nudity
or tawdriness, but just for the adult content,” he said.
“I wanted to put an 18-year-old kid in really dangerous
situations, situations where I would freak out and cry in my
room.”
Still, that doesn’t mean the movie is always heavy-handed.
It shares characteristics with 1980s romantic comedies. Missing is
the current trend of bathroom and sexual humor. Instead, the film
returns to the basics, in the spirit of “Ferris
Bueller’s Day Off” and “The Breakfast
Club;” it relies on its portrayal of high school angst with
all its anxiousness and naive optimism.
The film revolves around the budding romance between 18-year-old
Matthew Kidman (Emile Hirsch) and the seemingly perfect Danielle
(Elisha Cuthbert). Just when things couldn’t get better for
Matthew, he finds out Danielle’s past is not as innocent as
it seems. Comparable to “Risky Business,” Matthew is
challenged to break out of his pre-determined career path for the
sake of the woman he loves.
“It’s something different,” said Cuthbert.
“Usually, you see “˜porn star’ and you say,
“˜No thanks.’ The changes that Danielle goes through are
formidable, and her transition from being Athena (the porn star) to
Danielle (the girl next door) is huge.”
For a boy who has had blinders on his whole life, this proves to
be a life-changing process for him. While the movie does not shy
away from the dramatic, the sentimental moments are lightened with
moments of humor.
“I was looking for a mix of realism and volatility,”
Greenfield said. “Of course, the film had to be funny, but at
the same time it had to be heartfelt, edgy and a little bit
scary.”
Though Greenfield easily fell in love with the script, written
by David Wagner, Brent Goldberg and Stuart Blumberg, it was
initially difficult to convince some actors, particularly Hirsch,
that the film was more than just another teen comedy. Greenfield
was concerned that actors would immediately dismiss the film due to
the storyline. But his fears were assuaged when Hirsch read the
script.
“I was shocked at how atypical it was from the teen movies
being put out right now,” Hirsch said. “It reminded me
of the ’80s Brat Pack romances because it’s funny, but
at the same time has depth and a lot more heart.”
