Nancy Drew
Director: Andrew Fleming
Cast: Emma Roberts, Josh Flitter, Max Thieriot, Tate Donovan, Rachael Leigh Cook, Barry Bostwick
Genre: Mystery
Rated: PG
Review By:
Andrea Tuccillo
School:
St. John's University '07
Quote:
"If you always do what interests you at least one person is pleased." -Katharine Hepburn
Nancy Drew
Review By: Andrea Tuccillo
AndreaTuccillo@TheCinemaSource.com
Nancy Drew
After years of being immortalized in the pages of Carolyn Keene's popular series of books, Nancy Drew snoops her way onto the big screen. And this modern take on the beloved mystery-solving teen is a wholesome treat.
Sixteen-year-old Nancy Drew (Emma Roberts) spends her free time helping the inept policemen of small-town River Heights solve crimes. She's the town's pint-sized gumshoe, almost a celebrity, but her curiosity also has the unfortunate effect of frequently getting her into trouble"”the kind of trouble that leaves her dangling off of buildings. When her lawyer father (Tate Donovan) pursues a job opportunity out in big, shiny Los Angeles, Nancy's amateur detective days are cut short. Before they move, she reluctantly promises her father that she will give up sleuthing. There's just one small problem. The house they have rented in L.A. just happens to contain the mystery of a lifetime: the former owner was a glamorous movie star named Dehlia Draycott (Laura Harring) who was found dead in the house 25 years ago after returning from a lengthy disappearance. What's a teen snoop to do? Secretly investigate, of course!
The questions and clues pile up. Why did Dehlia disappear for all those months? Who is the mysterious "Z"Â to whom Dehlia addressed a letter? Is the creepy groundskeeper Mr. Leshing involved somehow? The closer Nancy gets to finding out the truth about what really happened, the more dangerous the case becomes. With her secret weapon of irresistible baked goods, a persistent can-do spirit and quick-thinking there's no doubt that this teen will make it out of the toughest spots. Nancy may come off as a goody-goody but she's not above a little scheming and kick-butt adventure. She even gets herself and her tiny blue roadster involved in a car chase!
Along with the unfolding mystery, Nancy must deal with being an outcast at her new Hollywood high school. The prim and proper sleuth doesn't fit in with the snobby, trend-obsessed mean girls Inga (Daniella Monet) and Trish (Kelly Vitz). In contrast, Nancy's a super-organized smarty pants decked out in plaid and penny loafers, a mini-Martha Stewart with her carefully arranged cafeteria lunches and adept knowledge of CPR. But, she doesn't seem to mind. She's got Ned (Max Thierot), a sweet boy from back home, and Corky (Josh Flitter), a newfound pal, to keep her company on her adventures.
Nancy's a refreshing teen character to see on-screen. I love the fact that Emma Roberts (Julia's niece, if you didn't know) is a teenage girl who actually looks like a teen! Nancy is a model citizen, she puts others before herself, she's not afraid to be different (her clothes and sensibilities are decidedly retro), and she also happens to have a majorly cool hobby. In the film, Nancy becomes an inadvertent fashion trendsetter and I can't help but feel that her unique style will
I'm aware that some may criticize this Nancy Drew for perhaps being too pure and sugar-sweet, but truthfully the world of teen sleuthing already has a sassy, edgy private eye"”just watch a little show called Veronica Mars. Roberts' Nancy has more of an old-fashioned charm.
And while some critics might consider this a fault, I liked all of the familiar mystery-novel clichés that the movie employed. It seemed fitting in keeping with the spirit of the original novels that I read when I was young. The traditional "sinister"Â character who may or may not be involved with the case, the old, potentially haunted house, the eccentric neighbors, and the trusty sidekick all make an appearance. Obviously, many scenes involved a certain suspension of belief, most notably when Nancy Drew utters the phrase, "I have to dismantle this bomb."Â But it's all in good fun.
Also, being that this is an "updated"Â version of the Nancy Drew novels expect references to iPods, MAC computers, and IMDb.com. And look out for a cameo by Bruce Willis!
This movie should be a hit with its target pre-teen demographic. Featuring a kind and decent heroine who fearlessly eschews popularity for doing the right thing, getting a clue from Nancy Drew may not be such a bad idea.
Movie Grade: B
Synopsis:
Based on characters created by Carolyn Keene, Nancy Drew follows Nancy (Emma Roberts) as she accompanies her father Carson (Tate Donovan) to Los Angeles on one of his business trips and stumbles across evidence about a long-unsolved crime involving the mysterious death of a beautiful movie star. Nancy’s resourcefulness and personal responsibility are put to the test when she finds herself in the middle of the fast-living, self-indulgent world of Hollywood.
