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November 06, 2007
A Review of Nancy Drew Movie
Most of all, what keeps the movie afloat is Emma Roberts’ sincerity in her portrayal of Nancy.
by Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN) | June 14, 2007
Blog Article
NANCY DREW (2007) 2 1/2 stars out of 4. Starring Emma Roberts, Josh Flitter, Max Thieriot, Rachael Leigh Cook, Tate Donovan and Barry Bostwick. Screenplay by Andrew Fleming and Tiffany Paulsen. Directed by Fleming. Rated PG. Running time: Approx: 99 mins.
When adapting an iconic character — especially one who has been around for more than 75 years — a filmmaker must walk a delicate balance between remaining true to the source but also contemporizing the subject lest she — or he — appears outdated or, even worse, irrelevant.
The filmmakers behind the new Nancy Drew stumble a few times on that tightrope, but overall made a successful adaptation of the popular character.
Nancy Drew is a movie aimed at adolescent girls, those not yet sophisticated enough to blow it off as a children’s movie.
As for adults, well, this is a film where you can drop off the kids and run errands for an hour or so.
Nancy Drew, directed by Andrew Fleming with a screenplay by Fleming and Tiffany Paulsen, plays like a cross between a Nickelodeon or Disney Channel movie and a big screen feature.
The mystery in which Nancy gets involved is not too complicated, but complex enough to hold a young viewer. The character is drawn as a stranger in a stranger land with her retro dressing style and manners, yet not too geeky to turn off her young admirers.
Most of all, what keeps the movie afloat is Emma Roberts’ sincerity in her portrayal of Nancy.
She plays the character straight from beginning to end, never letting her tongue slip into her cheek. Her Nancy is a dedicated and frank individual interested in the truth, for whom “sleuthing” is a passion.
The story centers on Nancy and her dad, Carson Drew (Tate Donovan), leaving small-town River Heights for Los Angeles where he has some legal matters to take care of while she tries to solve the mystery surrounding the death of famous actress Dehlia Draycott, whose old mansion Nancy’s dad is renting.
It doesn’t take long for Nancy to begin unearthing clues, all the while trying to fit in at Hollywood High.
The weakest part of the movie concerns two girls, who seemed to have dropped by from Clueless, who begin to torment Nancy, then decide to be her friends. This subplot is nothing more than a padded distraction.
Overall, Nancy Drew is easy entertainment.
It makes no demands of its young audience other than to sit back and enjoy the ride.
If the filmmakers can maintain the tone set in this movie, a series of films — not unlike the ones that this same Warner Bros. studio produced in the late 1930s — should be forthcoming. And as long as young Roberts continues as Nancy, the franchise will be in talented and capable hands.
Bob Bloom is the film critic and DVD reviewer at the Journal & Courier in Lafayette, Ind. He can be reached by e-mail at bbloom@journalandcourier.com or at bloomjc@yahoo.com. Bloom's reviews also can be found at the Journal & Courier Web site: www.jconline.com
Other reviews by Bloom can be found at the Rottentomatoes Web site: www.rottentomatoes.com.
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