The Girl Next Door builds up enough good will during its successful first half that we're willing to forgive some of the strange and disappointing convolutions the plot takes us through during the final 45 minutes. There are two primary reasons why it's not hard to recommend this likeable (albeit raunchy) romantic comedy: director Luke Greenfield and his screenwriters have a genuine feel of what it's like to be a high school outsider, and it's been a long time since there has been as appealing a young couple as Emile Hirsch and Elisha Cuthbert. (He's 18 and she's 21, and they play characters who match their real-life ages.)
See movie-reviews for full review.
