Nancy Drew
By Jane BoursawAverage User Rating:
MPAA Rating: PG for mild violence, thematic elements and brief language.
Genre: Action Adventure/Mystery
Theatrical Release: June 15, 2007
DVD Release: March 11, 2008
Running Time: 1 hour and 39 minutes
Plot Synopsis: Emma Roberts stars as Nancy Drew, a 16-year-old sleuth who moves from small-town River Heights to glamorous Los Angeles for a few months with her attorney father, Carson Drew (Tate Donovan). Although her father wishes for her to refrain from solving crimes in the big, bad, city, when Nancy discovers an unsolved mystery right in her new home, she can't help but apply her crime-solving talents to the case.
Sex/Nudity: A chaste kiss between Nancy and Ned, tight clothing worn by "L.A." girls
Violence/Gore: Lots of perilous situations (car chases, hanging off of beams, defusing bombs) but no blood or visible bodily harm to Nancy and her friends, one bad guy gets hit over the head with a shovel, some bad guys have guns, but never shoot.
Profanity: Mild. A few uses of "hell" and insults like "idiot" and "freak"
Which Kids Will Like It?
With Nancy Drew in high school and dealing with cliques, crushes, and romance, this movie is too grown-up for preschoolers age 2-5. In many of the Nancy Drew books, the amateur detective is described as an 18-year-old blonde. Here, she’s a 16-year-old girl with reddish-brown hair (although she did have dark hair in the earlier books). But no matter. Emma Roberts inhabits the role with panache (her DNA doesn’t hurt – she’s Erik Roberts’ daughter and Julia Roberts’ niece). With a PG rating, the filmmakers are aiming at a younger crowd, perhaps hoping to capitalize on more years with the audience. While a little on the fluffy side, this movie contains very little objectionable content and is great fun for kids 8 and older.
Will Parents Like It?
Yes! Nancy is smart and darling, and parents will appreciate her love of things that are "old-fashioned."
Kaboose Review: Over the years, the beloved teen sleuth known as Nancy Drew has solved more than 500 mysteries – in books written by Carolyn Keene (actually a pseudonym for many authors), in movies dating back to the 1930s, and in various TV shows, most notably one in the 1970s starring Pamela Sue Martin.
Now the franchise reboots itself with Emma Roberts in the title role. The movie opens with the young detective and her dad, renowned attorney Carson Drew (Tate Donovan), leaving their friendly hometown of River Heights and heading west to Los Angeles.
Enrolling at Hollywood High School, Nancy is most definitely the new girl in town. With her penny loafers, matching sweater sets, and impeccable manners, she doesn’t exactly fit in with the self-absorbed, fast-paced kids in L.A., especially reigning fashionistas Inga and Trish (Daniella Monet and Kelly Vitz). They pretty much try to make her life miserable.
At the same time, Nancy ponders her feelings for Ned (Max Thieriot), the boy she left back in River Heights. When Ned drives Nancy’s beloved sky-blue convertible to L.A., he strikes up a little rivalry with her young pal, Corky (the amazingly funny Josh Flitter), a fast-talking 12-year-old with a huge crush on her.
Then there’s her dad. He’s proud of his daughter’s accomplishments, but worries for her safety. River Heights was a small town, and they knew the police chief personally. But it’s a different story in the sprawling metropolis of L.A. So he and Nancy had agreed that she would take a break from detective work in California.
Unfortunately, they’re staying in the Draycott Mansion, which holds a tantalizing mystery: the unexplained death of its former owner, glamorous film star Dehlia Draycott. Within hours of their arrival, some of Nancy’s belongings go missing from her room, the eerie sound of footsteps lead nowhere, and a menacing caretaker (Marshall Bell) makes it clear that he doesn’t appreciate their company. The young sleuth can’t help herself. She has to get involved.
Nancy Drew is smart, fearless, confident, and she can hold her own in any situation just by being herself. In short, she’s the epitome of Girl Power, whether she’s diffusing bombs, exploring damp tunnels, or dodging speeding cars. She’s also doing stuff that most girls would probably love to do, which is why she never goes out of style.
Rounding out the cast are Rachael Leigh Cook as Jane Brighton, a single mom living with her daughter in an L.A. apartment; Barry Bostwick as a high-powered Draycott estate attorney; Laura Harring as Dehlia Draycott (seen in flashbacks); Caroline Aaron as an eager real estate agent; and Emmy Award winner Pat Carroll as the Draycott estate’s gossipy landlady.
Jane Louise Boursaw is a freelance journalist specializing in the movie and television industries.
Theatrical Release: June 15, 2007
DVD Release: March 11, 2008
Running Time: 1 hour and 39 minutes
Plot Synopsis: Emma Roberts stars as Nancy Drew, a 16-year-old sleuth who moves from small-town River Heights to glamorous Los Angeles for a few months with her attorney father, Carson Drew (Tate Donovan). Although her father wishes for her to refrain from solving crimes in the big, bad, city, when Nancy discovers an unsolved mystery right in her new home, she can't help but apply her crime-solving talents to the case.
Sex/Nudity: A chaste kiss between Nancy and Ned, tight clothing worn by "L.A." girls
Violence/Gore: Lots of perilous situations (car chases, hanging off of beams, defusing bombs) but no blood or visible bodily harm to Nancy and her friends, one bad guy gets hit over the head with a shovel, some bad guys have guns, but never shoot.
Profanity: Mild. A few uses of "hell" and insults like "idiot" and "freak"
Which Kids Will Like It?
With Nancy Drew in high school and dealing with cliques, crushes, and romance, this movie is too grown-up for preschoolers age 2-5. In many of the Nancy Drew books, the amateur detective is described as an 18-year-old blonde. Here, she’s a 16-year-old girl with reddish-brown hair (although she did have dark hair in the earlier books). But no matter. Emma Roberts inhabits the role with panache (her DNA doesn’t hurt – she’s Erik Roberts’ daughter and Julia Roberts’ niece). With a PG rating, the filmmakers are aiming at a younger crowd, perhaps hoping to capitalize on more years with the audience. While a little on the fluffy side, this movie contains very little objectionable content and is great fun for kids 8 and older.
Will Parents Like It?
Yes! Nancy is smart and darling, and parents will appreciate her love of things that are "old-fashioned."
Kaboose Review: Over the years, the beloved teen sleuth known as Nancy Drew has solved more than 500 mysteries – in books written by Carolyn Keene (actually a pseudonym for many authors), in movies dating back to the 1930s, and in various TV shows, most notably one in the 1970s starring Pamela Sue Martin.
Now the franchise reboots itself with Emma Roberts in the title role. The movie opens with the young detective and her dad, renowned attorney Carson Drew (Tate Donovan), leaving their friendly hometown of River Heights and heading west to Los Angeles.
Enrolling at Hollywood High School, Nancy is most definitely the new girl in town. With her penny loafers, matching sweater sets, and impeccable manners, she doesn’t exactly fit in with the self-absorbed, fast-paced kids in L.A., especially reigning fashionistas Inga and Trish (Daniella Monet and Kelly Vitz). They pretty much try to make her life miserable.
At the same time, Nancy ponders her feelings for Ned (Max Thieriot), the boy she left back in River Heights. When Ned drives Nancy’s beloved sky-blue convertible to L.A., he strikes up a little rivalry with her young pal, Corky (the amazingly funny Josh Flitter), a fast-talking 12-year-old with a huge crush on her.
Then there’s her dad. He’s proud of his daughter’s accomplishments, but worries for her safety. River Heights was a small town, and they knew the police chief personally. But it’s a different story in the sprawling metropolis of L.A. So he and Nancy had agreed that she would take a break from detective work in California.
Unfortunately, they’re staying in the Draycott Mansion, which holds a tantalizing mystery: the unexplained death of its former owner, glamorous film star Dehlia Draycott. Within hours of their arrival, some of Nancy’s belongings go missing from her room, the eerie sound of footsteps lead nowhere, and a menacing caretaker (Marshall Bell) makes it clear that he doesn’t appreciate their company. The young sleuth can’t help herself. She has to get involved.
Nancy Drew is smart, fearless, confident, and she can hold her own in any situation just by being herself. In short, she’s the epitome of Girl Power, whether she’s diffusing bombs, exploring damp tunnels, or dodging speeding cars. She’s also doing stuff that most girls would probably love to do, which is why she never goes out of style.
Rounding out the cast are Rachael Leigh Cook as Jane Brighton, a single mom living with her daughter in an L.A. apartment; Barry Bostwick as a high-powered Draycott estate attorney; Laura Harring as Dehlia Draycott (seen in flashbacks); Caroline Aaron as an eager real estate agent; and Emmy Award winner Pat Carroll as the Draycott estate’s gossipy landlady.
Jane Louise Boursaw is a freelance journalist specializing in the movie and television industries.
Star Rating
* * * *
