Nancy Drew
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Movie Reviews of Nancy Drew
Movie Review: Charm, Warmth, Iconic Performance
Summary: 5 Stars
Many people seem to blindly follow the lead of the critics, and to disregard any performance or interpretation that lends itself to being bigger than life. For whatever reason, the ability to portray characters who are average-or considerably less than average-is perceived as demonstrative of greater talent than the qualities you need to play a great leader, or superhero, or some idealized figure. This is the only reason I can imagine why Emma Roberts was not more heavily, and universally, lauded for her work in this movie.
If she had played a pregnant high school girl, or a shoplifter, she would have received greater recognition.
But there's something about the portrayal of an iconic figure, like Nancy Drew, that does not seem to merit the same attention or respect from the critics or writers.
And this is patently absurd.
Lots of actresses can seem authentic as trivial, or tacky, or downright trashy. But how many can bear the load that Roberts carried in this film? To portray a teenaged girl who is serious and cerebral........but still pleasant and engaging? But even THAT is more complex than it sounds, because simply being 'pleasant and engaging' is not enough. She needs to be pleasant.........but it is always 'old school', so to speak. No matter how nice she may be, there is always an element of formality, of restraint.
Or, as the guy in the movie points out, 'breeding.'
Something you either have or you do not.
Look at the way she interacts with the other characters. For example, when she speaks with the young unwed mother, she is friendly, and goes far out of her way to help her. But as they chat in the girl's apartment, it is almost as if an invisible wall exists between them. Nancy is nice to they clearly have nothing in common, and you get the feeling from their first meeting that, once the case is solved, this will signal the end of their interaction on any close level.
The same thing holds for the way she treats her little butterball friend from school. From her arrival, he was nice to her(for the most part) and she cannot help but respond with loyalty. However, she does not manipulate him the way that some attractive girls might. She does not lead him on, or act in a way he could misinterpret. Always, there is this formality, this ladylike quality, that sets her apart from typical contemporary female characters.
On top of all this, Nancy Drew is depicted as being this pillar of individuality. From my observations, this is not a typical quality that you'd expect to find in any teenaged girl(or boy, for that matter). How often such people actually occur in the real world, I wouldn't hazard a guess, although I've known enough of them to know they DO exist, in one form or another.
But to make that seem be capable of capturing the elements of which Nancy is comprised-the charm, the warmth, the antiquated sense of personal style-and to be capable of making those qualities felt, even in a sea of kids who look and behave differently........To have such a rock-solid, absolute confidence in herself.........and yet still never fall into being overly arrogant or abrasive.
The fact that Roberts could make this combination seem so authentic was, for me, the strongest aspect of her performance.
Roberts is possessed of an ethereal quality. Her demeanor is warm, and reassuring........and yet somewhat distant and untouchable, as well. You get the feeling that she'll do what she thinks is right. But you also get the feeling that she won't really lose any sleep over it if you don't like her. This is the combination you pretty much have to have to display any integrity at all.
Nancy does what she does because of who SHE is. Not because of how she expects to be perceived by those around her. This is the very personification of strength.
Emma Roberts carries this film. The pop culture landscape is littered with actresses in her age group, and it is hard for one to really stand out. But she truly made this role her own. I hope that she reprises it someday. She took an iconic character,offered that character a suitably epic interpretation, but all the while placing her own indelible stamp upon the role. You simply could not ask for more.
Movie Review: Adorable and a great model for girls of today.
Summary: 5 Stars
Emma Roberts plays the hip outsider as Nancy Drew. She loves old things, hangs out with her absent dad, wears a lot of plaid and headbands, is extremely neat, and is astonishingly adventurous, inquisitive, and fearless.
When watching this movie, I was about to say "You know, the thing that makes this movie so unique, is the fact that I still haven't seen Nancy pull out a cell phone, blackberry, laptop, or Iphone." It gave the first 1/3 of the movie a refreshing escape from modern day "conveniences." It made it entertaining in the way the Brady Bunch movie forced an anachronistic family into the present, to survive and interact with the people of today. But alas, the Apple laptop eventually snuck its way onto Nancy's bed.
The tension between hip outsider girl and hip insider herd is delightful. I love everything Emma Roberts has done, including Unfabulous, Aquamarine, etc. She is the daughter of Eric Roberts, who I think is absolutely adorable. She's done many movies and a tv series about not belonging, and I think that's a crucial message for girls of today, who are apt to conform to the latest trend meted out by Myspace.
There is a big cultural shift happening over the past ten years. Many girls in our schools today are forced to be loud, raunchy, dress older than their age, and act like one of the boys. I think Nancy Drew suggests a great role model for teenage girls to think on their own, to be inquisitive first and foremost, love a challenge, be well-informed, kind, polite, adventurous, and most importantly, to cultivate a fashion style that one can call one's own.
My absolute favorite line in the movie: Nancy: "I can't stand people with no manners. He tried to kill me. That was soooo rude!"
I dearly wish there are more movies like these.
Movie Review: Roberts Is Outstanding
Summary: 5 Stars
The most interesting thing about feature film-making is how the final cut rarely turns out quite the way it was initially visualized. Most of the time this is a bad thing but on occasion it is a good thing; typically thanks to some little detail of the production that creates an unexpected synergy between the other elements. For example, in "The Clique" (2008), an especially good costume designer decorates each scene with a creativity that transforms a teen movie into a visual homage of its source novel series.
This same accidental homage to its literary source series occurs in "Nancy Drew" (2007); in this case because Emma Roberts (as the title character) unexpectedly transcends the intended parody; effortlessly selling the heroine she is playing. The film's original intention was to work on two levels; to give its middle school target audience an entertaining mystery film while subtly poking fun at its wrapped too tight traditional heroine. Much like "The Brady Bunch Movie" (1995) there would be some viewers who got it on this second level.
But Roberts throws a monkey wrench into the works with a Winona Ryder type straight performance which adds a third dimension to the production. Even those laughing the loudest at the parody elements (which are not as extreme as those in "The Brady Bunch Movie") will find it hard to not identify with her character.
Roberts' Nancy is the real thing. This is not Bonita Granville's "Nancy" who owed more to the heroines of 1930's screwball comedies than to her literary counterpart. Which is not to disparage those four very entertaining films, but to simply note that readers finally get to watch the heroine that they know; even if it is in a more contemporary environment.
Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.
Movie Review: Tribute to David Lynch
Summary: 5 Stars
NANCY DREW is a perfect film for kids, but adults will enjoy it too, especially those of us who rate David Lynch's MULHOLLAND DRIVE highly and want to see it remade from a different angle.
On the surface, the story is one of those fish out of water scenarios in which Nancy Drew is plucked out of pleasant, tiny River Heights and enrolled in a ritzy, snobby Beverly Hills school in which her ways make a freak.
With the help of her heartthrob boyfriend from back home, Ned Nickerson, Nancy conquers the social world of Hollywood Hills, and the criminal world as well, solving a crime that happened right in the rented mansion that Carson Drew is renting. Thus tested by the oddballs of the Golden State, much like the original Nancy was forced to deal with California crime in THE MYSTERY OF THE FIRE DRAGON, she returns home to Hannah Gruen's good home cooking and to her chums Bess Marvin and George Fayne. However, viewers with long memories will glow with delight when they watch the saga of the murdered movie star, Delia Draycott, a thinly disguised version of Laura Elena Harring's turn as "Rita" in the David Lynch movie. Director Andrew Fleming spared no expense in his homage to Lynch, even going so far as to hire the lovely Rita herself. The plot such as it is, rebounds with Lynchian mirrorings and twinships (former starlet Rachael Leigh Cook appears as a girl who may or may not share DNA with the long-gone Rita, who appears only in flashbacks), while Nancy Drew tries desperately to keep Cook's daughter from being deported by the state.
It's never easy for a love-addicted genre star to find happiness with the right man on Mulholland Dr. Delia Draycott made one wrong turning too many, and Andrew Fleming digs out all the right notes of compassion under the tinsel.
Movie Review: Super Sleuth
Summary: 5 Stars
Nancy Drew
As a huge Nancy Drew fan, I was very excited to watch this modern day Nancy Drew mystery movie.
The main difference in this modern day twist is Nancy's age. They set her age as a teenage high school student. The Nancy from the books is eternally eighteen-years-old. (The first books came out in the 1930's and new books are still being published today).
I was not disappointed in the Nancy Drew movie. She is a crime solving wonder, taking chances, and even going behind her dad's back to solve a mystery. Let's face it, if there is a mystery to be solved, Nancy Drew is your girl.
When Nancy's Dad, Carson Drew takes a job in Hollywood, he hopes for Nancy to make a fresh start and to give up mysteries. Nancy makes a promise to her father, "No more mysteries." When she moves into the home of the deceased Hollywood movie star, Dehlia Draycott, the image of the movie star is prevalent throughout the house. Nancy even hears the voice of Dehlia in her sleep.
Nancy begins to wonder about Dehlia Draycott's mysterious death. How can the teenager keep the promise to her father, when a mystery is all around her? Nancy follows clues which lead her to danger, excitement and a long lost heir. Will she solve the mystery? Will she ever be accepted by her peers at the new school? Will her dad finally understand her need to solve a mystery?
Kids and parents will love Nancy Drew. I really hope this movie will entice a whole new generation of Nancy Drew readers.
Jill Ammon Vanderwood
author:
Through the Rug
Through The Rug: Follow That Dog (Through the Rug)