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

This was shown on a premium channel, so I didn't realise it was made for TV. Even so, I like some of the movies on lifetime (Lifestyle here in UK), but this was awful. The family were so cheesy, "Love you mum" "Love you even more honey" Then after they were broken into for the second time, 10 mins later, they were at it again, "Love you mum" big cheesy smiles etc... She phones her husband, and tells him not to bother coming home. They were only broken into by a guy that wanted them dead, have a nutter living next door, who needs help? She has her teenage daughter and a cat (not for long) to look after her.However, as a comedy, I'd give it a good 7. I might even show it to my friends next time I have them round. Could be great fun after a bottle of Vodka or 10!

I accessed this movie on this site for a friend. She was curious about it, since she had been in Toronto while they were shooting it (are any of these Lifetime flicks made anywhere but Canada or Seattle anymore?) -- and had met some of the cast.By coincidence it was indicated as being shown again in a few days (Oct, 10/'07), and I was able to catch it -- and frankly was curious after seeing some of these comments.It has the formula for which somebody at "Lifetine" obviously has a check-list -- where only some superfluous details in the particular story vary: (1) an initially friendly, even giddy, neighbor, who turns-out to be a raving sociopath; a disturbed "heroine," who at times is so banal as to diminish the degree of sympathy we might afford her; the husband who is something of an amiable doophus; dialog and several scenes which make the typical soap opera seem an intellectual presentation by comparison; to the inevitable child, sometimes annoying, sometimes (like here) a precocious catalyst to the story and the sociopath's actions.There is also the further aspect to this particular story -- also not unknown to this genre -- where the family move, made following a "once-in-a-lifetime" dangerous experience, only finds worse in their new locale.But, all-in-all, a bit fascinating in its predictable mediocrity, and watching the inevitable Jeckyll-to Hyde metamorphosis of the intrusive psychoSometimes this type flick rates, say 3 or 4 *'s. Give this one 5, because the acting is a bit better than most.

I had fun watching this. There were some good twists that I didn't see coming and some good suspense. While they are others out there who hate Lifetime movies, I have to say I love the majority of them (there are exceptions though). And this movie is one that I liked. If you don't like Lifetime, all you have to do is not watch it. I loved Alexandra Paul in this and Lover's Revenge and Saving Emily. I also saw that Love Thy Neighbor scored the highest approval rating in the Nielsens that they've "ever had for an Indy film." I honestly can see how people would dislike Lifetime films, but they are what they are. I am the audience they're shooting for I guess. If you're looking for an Academy Award film, you're not going to find it on Lifetime. But if you like these movie of the week popcorn movies, then I'd recommend this one as much as any other. To each is own I guess.