Nancy Drew Movie Review

Rating*: PG
Cast: Emma Roberts, Rachael Leigh Cook, Max Thieriot
Director: Andrew Fleming
Genre:  Detective/Adventure
Violence: Mild
Profanity: Details not yet available
Sex/Nudity: Details not yet available
Recommended for: Dads and daughters
Age Groups*: Details not yet available
Running Time: Details not yet available
Release Date: 15th June, 2007

There was a time—not so long ago—when every girl in America knew who Nancy Drew was and the familiar style with which she solved the mystery-next-door.

With the release of Warner Bros’ Nancy Drew this summer, the new generation of teenyboppers is once again ready to discover the magic of detective stories through heroic teen exploits.

Here’s a refresher course for clueless dads as yet unacquainted with Nancy. The original Nancy Drew was depicted as an  independent-minded teenager, eighteen, who lives with her father, the attorney Carson Drew, and has graduated from high school. She is an active teenager from an affluent background, who has plenty of time for sleuthing and snooping around.

In the film, the updated Nancy Drew is a small town girl moving to a big city (Los Angeles) with her father and making a big impression wherever she goes. We see Nancy (played with quirk and style by Emma Roberts) getting involved in piecing together a mystery involving a dead movie star in a mansion, live car bombs and forbidden tunnels leading to dark secrets. Of course, being old fashioned, she is also desperately trying to fit into the new millennium while trying to get a handle on her relationship with her old boyfriend.

Dads will enjoy this film for its old-fashioned humor cleverly mixed in with new age references that are apt and funny. It’s a great film to help dads bond with their daughters. There are good examples about values like healthy curiosity and daring to talk about. Also dads and daughters can discuss the stereotypes and clichés about conservative girls in small town America as depicted in the film.

Younger audiences who enjoy the film are sure to head out to bookstores to browse through Nancy Drew mysteries the old fashioned way.

- Amit Erandole
 

*Check back for updated GreatDad review on June 15 with ratings and more specific advice for age groups.