Film is Pwn

I’m a little ashamed of myself, but I enjoyed Nancy Drew. 

This is a cute, clever movie adaptation of the girl’s version of the Hardy Boys.  In my youth, I did read Hardy Boys, but Nancy Drew books?  Out of the question! 

Now why would I watch/review Nancy Drew, a movie targeted at pre-teen girls?  Well, for starters I recently reinstalled HBO in search of fresh movies to blog on, and after a series of very dark, bleak, R-rated movies culminating with the dark, depressing film the Condemned, I desperately needed something bright and pleasant. 

Nancy Drew IS bright and pleasant, and for that I was grateful.  It is funny, though not in a belly laugh kind of funny.  I chuckled a bit during the screening and smiled a lot.  While Nancy Drew pays homage to its roots without relying on them; the live action Scooby Doo movies lived and died (emphasis on died) by nostalgia, but Nancy Drew creates its own reality where knowledge of the source material is not a prerequisite for understanding the jokes.

Emma Roberts (Julia’s niece and Eric’s daughter) plays the title character as a perky, impossibly smart teenage girl.  The movie is set in modern times though Nancy is a throwback in terms of fashion, work ethic, and attitude.  I can’t stand mall-obsessed, shallow girls in real life or in movies like Clueless, and Nancy Drew is fortunately the polar opposite.  Emma Roberts is a really delightful young actress who I think has quite a career ahead of her. 

Nancy and her Dad (Tate Donovan) live in a smalltown where she’s the local police chief’s “best man” and we are introduced to her when she catches a pair of burglars, one of them is Chris Kattan.  Anyone who takes Chris Kattan off the streets and away from cameras is all right in my book, so we’re off to a great start (come to think of it, I haven’t seen Chris Kattan since this movie was released.  Thank you, Nancy Drew!!!).  Nancy and Dad move to Los Angeles, which creates a lot of opportunity for naïve, fish out of water humor. 

In Los Angeles, the Drews move into a mysterious house once owned by a Hollywood starlet Dehlia Draycott who disappeared for several months, returned, and then passed away.  Nancy is desperate to solve and investigate the mystery, but she promised Dad that she wouldn’t sleuth any more.  But clues and secret passageways are too tempting, and Nancy gives into her sleuthing addiction.

No one will mistake Nancy Drew for a brilliant movie, but it’s a sweet, charming diversion.  Parents will feel safe letting their kids watching it; there is only mild peril to Nancy throughout and there is no naughty language or violence.  The message of the film is to be yourself, not give in to peer pressure, and always be nice to people, and that’s a good message to send to kids.  Also, there’s enough humor to entertain adults for one viewing – it entertained me and I neither have kids nor do I even like kids. 

It may be a case of the right movie at the right time striking the chord, but I liked Nancy Drew.  With that said, I don’t suspect I’d ever want to watch it a second time, but I had a good time watching it once.

I hope you haven’t lost your respect for me because I’m recommending this. . . I promise in the Top 20 Favorite Movie Countdown Podcast you won’t find any teen girl movies.  Nothing but cool, tough guy movies . . . and the Three Amigos.

–Daniel J. Roos