'Risky Business' revisited

In the rules of cinema, '70s porn stars turn into drug addicts and criminals. However, apparently in the 21st century porn stars move to the suburbs and enlighten the world of overachieving, nervous high school boys. \n"The Girl Next Door" is a raunchy, R-rated teen comedy starring "24's" damsel-in-distress Elisha Cuthbert as Danielle, the ex-porn star with a heart of gold. She moves into a house next door to Matthew (Emile Hirsch), a high school student on the verge of graduation. Danielle, surprisingly, takes an interest in Matthew and the two become friends with potential. \nThis wouldn't be a teen comedy without a horny best friend pumping bad ideas in our hero's head. Matthew's best friend, Eli (Chris Marquette, doing a great Corey Haim impression), shows him evidence of her porn past and talks him into treating Danielle like an actress from one of her movies. She is offended and ends all possibility of a relationship.\nAs Danielle walks out on Matthew, her producer/handler, Kelly (the always underrated Timothy Olyphant) walks in and demands her return to the old biz. Feeling she has nothing to offer anyone in the 'burbs, she leaves. Holding the proverbial boom box over his head, Matthew attempts to win her back. \nKelly begins to see young Matthew as a nuisance and the conflict is introduced. If all of this sounds a little "Risky Business," you have a good memory. Not that this isn't great source material, but "The Girl Next Door" is more glossy and clichéd than its predecessor. The movie would need a little more depth to be our generation's "Risky Business," but as is, "The Girl Next Door" works well as a good comedy. \nEmile Hirsch redeems himself from the sappiness that was "The Emperor's Club" and Cuthbert is smart not to overplay her role as an FHM cover come to life. The supporting cast is strong and brings about most of the laughs; whether watching the nerds fumble with Danielle's porn star friends or seeing Olyphant chew scenery as a great L.A. sleaze ball -- these cats entertain. The soundtrack is also good, instead of yet-to-be-released cheap soundtrack singles; the producers place classics like the Verve's "Lucky Man" at pivotal points. Also, IU students will have a chuckle at a subplot involving a Teter-esque reality porn shoot. These little things make the film better than it easily needed to be, and thus, it's not just another teen comedy.