Love Thy Neighbor (2006)

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

After a violent break-in and robbery, crisis-counselor Alexandra Paul (as Laura Benson) is disturbed by flashbacks. Her soccer-playing teen daughter Ksenia Solo (as Erin) has nightmares. Husband and father Gary Hudson (as Jim), often absent due to his work, decides to move the Illinois family of three to a gated community. Idyllic "Arbor Eden" is heavily secured; it has an entrance officer, coded doorways, and super-tough windows. As this is a "Lifetime" TV-thriller, you can assume they will be needed...At first, all seems well. The family adopts smart cat "Fred" to replace their likewise named, and unfortunately murdered, dog. Problems involve missing furniture and overbearing neighbor Shannon Lawson (as Janis Rivers). In a custody battle with her ex, Ms. Lawson lives with painfully shy daughter Michelle Killoran (as Jenny), in a perfectly decorated house. As chicken-fed chubby as Paul is attractively thin, Lawson gets on her neighbors' nerves. Lawson deliciously bites into her role, helping make this one fun.****** Love Thy Neighbor (2/26/06) Paul Schneider ~ Alexandra Paul, Shannon Lawson, Ksenia Solo, Gary Hudson

**SPOILERS** It's when Erin Benson, Ksenla Solo, made the high school womens succor team at the expense of her daughter Jenny, Michelle Killoran, Janis Rivers, Shannon Lawson, who wasn't that stable to begin with completely flipped out of her skull. Determined to get Jenny on the team Janis started to hound Erin's mom Laura Benson, Alexandra Paul, into having her daughter reject her position on the team in favor of Jenny. This was just the beginning of the damage that Janis caused in the movie not only to the Benson's who at first were her best friends but everyone else whom she felt was a threat to her perfect lifestyle.We already saw what an overbearing nut case Janis was at the beginning of the movie but as time went on she went from silly to obnoxious to murderous in trying to get her way at the expense of anyone whom she felt threatened the perfect world that she created for herself. When in fact it was Janis who was threatening everyone in the movie including her daughter Jenny and estranged and severely battered husband Allen, John Jarvis. As for the Bensons, Laura Erin and Papa Jim, played by Gary Hudson, they just moved into this supposedly safe and gated community of the Arbor Eden Etsates thinking all the trouble they went through in the old neighborhood was behind them. That's when they were the victims of a home invasion where their pet dog Fred was killed. With the crazed Janis Rivers now out to get her, and her daughter Erin, Laura is in far more danger now then when was when she ever was back then! With Janis pulling out all stops to destroy her and her daughter's future in the world of women's soccer as well as getting a collage scholarship and education!***SPOILERS*** What struck me as a bit ridicules is how Janis was able to convince Erins succor Coach Brand, Scott Wickwere, that Erin was on drugs and have her kicked off the team without a stitch of proof at all! What's even more ridicules is when the coach didn't put Jenny back on the succor team Janis then plants a story that he was having an affair with the mother of one of his succor players, obviously Mrs. Benson, and has him canned by the school principle Rennet, Paul Stevens. Why the hell would Rennet listen to this obvious nut-job and not to Coach Brand whom he's known for some 20 years! And if anybody in the movie would have just had done a background check on Janis they would have known right away that she's someone not to be taken seriously in her accusations against anyone!As usual the good part in the movie is saved for last with a now totally crazed and out of control Janis,in seeing her entire fantasy world collapsing all around her, go for it in trying to do in a at first a terrified Laura Benson who quickly ends up getting the upper hand and finally puts an end to Janis reign of terror at quiet and peaceful Arbor Eden Estates.

In the middle of the night, Laura Benson is alone in the house with her daughter Erin when she is awakened by the frantic barking of dog Fred. She goes to see what is going on and finds two burglars, one of whom is pointing a gun at her. She runs to protect Erin and call the cops.When husband Jim gets home from a business trip, he refuses to leave his family again, despite a deadline. Laura goes back to work as a counselor for St. Agnes (we're never told just what that is), but it soon becomes clear SHE is the one in need of counseling.With just Jim's income, selling the house and moving to a gated community doesn't seem the most logical course of action, but it is necessary for Laura to regain her sanity. Or at least that was the theory. Jim sells airplanes, and the more he can be away, the more money he can make, so maybe this will work out after all.The family's first visitor is an affectionate feline who gets the name Fred. He is followed by the annoyingly friendly Janice Rivers and her shy daughter Jenny. Janice is divorced because of abuse (and Jenny's father wants custody), and she tries a little too hard to make sure her new neighbors like her. Jenny and Erin do become friends and try out for the soccer team.Will this ideal community turn out to be better than the "real world"? Well, if it did, what would be the point of the movie? There are a lot of problems that need solving, and plenty of twists that may or may not be the result of what one might expect.Shannon Lawson is the biggest reason to watch. She does a great job as the perky yet disturbed neighbor. She seems like a cross between Edie McClurg and Kelly Bishop in "Gilmore Girls". No, make that Joan Crawford. Yeah, that's better.Ksenia Solo makes a likable but slightly edgy teenage daughter. And Alexandra Paul is quite good-looking, and a capable actress too.Sean Baek doesn't spend much time on screen, but he's scary enough as one of the burglars.There is some violence, but for the most part it's not too graphic. Language is tamer than in most theatrical movies, but one word that seems to trouble broadcast networks gets used quite a bit. I don't recommend this movie to pet lovers who might be easily upset.It's actually a pretty good thriller. For a Lifetime movie, anyway.

This was a great movie. I love movies of the week and watch them all of the time. I liked the idea of the family needing to feel safe so they move to the gated community. We all wonder what it would be like to live in that type of neighborhood. And, don't we all dread that one neighbor who just HAS to be everyone's friend?! LOL. I really enjoyed Alexandra Paul too. She always delivers a good performance. She had great chemistry with the leading man as well. I thought the female villain was SO well done. She was creepy and hilarious all at once. The actress was perfectly cast! If you are a big movie watcher like I am, you have got to see this one. It seemed to have it all. It was suspenseful, fun and the acting was also good. I wish we could see more movies like this one!