Napoleon Dynamite/The Girl Next Door (2004) (Back-to-back)

NAPOLEON DYNAMITE: Jared Hess makes an unforgettable directorial debut with NAPOLEON DYNAMITE, a hilarious, tender, and original portrait of a truly eccentric character. Napoleon Dynamite (Jon Heder) is a high-school outcast in every sense of the word. More interested in playing tetherball by himself and drawing pictures of his favorite animal, the "liger" (a combination of a lion and a tiger), Napoleon is ignored by everyone in his tiny hometown of Preston, Idaho. At home, things aren't much better. His uber-nerd older brother Kip (Aaron Ruell) and ultra-vain Uncle Rico (Jon Gries) are too busy with their own obsessions to give Napoleon the time of day. It isn't until a new student, Pedro (Efren Ramirez), arrives that Napoleon finds friendship and performs an act of brave defiance that makes him a true hero.

Written by Hess and his wife Jerusha, NAPOLEON DYNAMITE brilliantly captures the awkwardness of high school without succumbing to condescension. Most of this can be attributed to Heder, who steps into Napoleon's moon boots with a jaw-dropping flawlessness. The rest of the cast is just as natural, underplaying their roles and letting the comedy unfold without forcing any of the jokes. Add a hilarious soundtrack of 1980s hits and you have an instant classic, a crowd-pleasing riot that has an undeniably universal appeal.

THE GIRL NEXT DOOR: In the tradition of RISKY BUSINESS and AMERICAN PIE comes THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, a sex-soaked teen comedy that actually has a heart. High school graduation is nearing for senior class president Matt Kidman (Emile Hirsch), who has been more concerned with getting into college than partying. But all that changes one night when the gorgeous Danielle (Elisha Cuthbert) arrives next door. Engaging, funny, and wild, Danielle is Matt's dream girl come to life, and it appears that she likes him back. But before the two can consummate their relationship, his porn-obsessed friend Eli (Chris Marquette) reveals a shocking secret: Danielle's a porn star! When her wacky producer, Kelly (Timothy Olyphant), shows up to take her back to "work," Matt's life really begins to spiral out of control. All the while, he must continue to rehearse an incredibly important speech that will hopefully earn him a major scholarship. But, most importantly, Matt must win the heart of Danielle once and for all.

Directed with irreverent yet good-natured sincerity by Luke Greenfield, with an all-star soundtrack (Marvin Gaye, Elliott Smith), THE GIRL NEXT DOOR has a breezy charm that might surprise some viewers. This is due in large part to Hirsch and Cuthbert, who deliver assured and engaging performances that help to sweeten the profane proceedings.