I read every Nancy Drew mystery I could get my hands on, starting with Password to Larkspur Lane and working my way through the rest of the 1,250 books in the series. Even now if I find old copies in the discard bin at the library I snatch them up and I found myself buying a few (i.e. 10) volumes when Costco carried some of the original hardbacks a few years ago. I dreamed of owning a blue roadster, have strawberry blond hair that flipped just right and a housekeeper that made the world's greatest brownies.A fan? You betcha. I'd move to River Heights in a second and apply to be Nancy's new best friend and Number Three Sidekick. The tall one who always knew whenever the bad guys were about to kidnap her. So when going to the screening of the new Nancy Drew movie last week you can bet I was carrying some pretty big expectations along with the Mike and Ikes I was smuggling in.
It didn't disappoint. This is one cute movie, the perfect translation of the series to the screen with just the right touch of retro flair mixed with modern hip. The opening title sequence is a good example: Using ink drawings from the original series set to a remake of New Order's "Blue Monday" by The Flunk it's a fun and catchy way to introduce the character so many of us already know and love.Emma Roberts plays Nancy wonderfully, though she looks younger than I always pictured Nancy would look in my mind when I read the books as a pre-teen but looking at the character from this side of 16 you'd expect as much. The best thing? Her outfits. I love them. Chic and sophisticated but with a touch of vintage charm that made me want each one. That hat she wears? I want it. Now I've got to get a pin with my own initials to wear on my lapel . . .
Now don't get me wrong, Tate Donovan isn't going to get an Oscar nomination for his gripping portrayal of Carson Drew (oh how I loved that name) and there's not really a "surprise" ending (not unless you find yourself on the edge of your seat watching Scooby Doo reruns) but if you liked fun movies like "Sky High" and "The Princess Diaries" you'll enjoy Nancy Drew. It's an entertaining visual rendition of the series and though it's aimed at the younger crowd it has a charm and sweetness sprinkled with a few chuckles and a Bruce Willis cameo that will make you feel you got your money's worth.
And she even has her blue roadster.
Technorati tags: Nancy Drew, movies, mysteries, reviews
I always loved Nancy Drew I just saw last week that a movie was coming out. Glad you reviewed it I might check it out.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review--my daughter and I will go see this together!
ReplyDeleteNice review. I somehow was not a Nancy Drew reader even though I lived at the library on Saturdays. I have tried since but apparently the window for joining the club closes around 12 years old. My daughter and her friends lived on them so maybe belonging to a group that reads them is part of the equation.
ReplyDeleteI posted about Nancy Drew today, too! I have it all arranged to take my seven-year-old niece to see it tomorrow afternoon.
ReplyDeleteMe and Nancy Drew were like this. I remember really starting to read voraciously when I was 9, thanks to Nancy Drew.
ReplyDeleteI asked Average Jane, too: Have your read Girl Sleuth? It's about the women who wrote the books.
ReplyDeleteJust getting my daughter into Nancy. I wondered about the movie so was glad to hear you liked it. Sounds perfect for us. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the movie review, I know my girls are excited about seeing it - even though they don't have the slightest idea who Nancy Drew is! I can't say I've read that many in the series - I just remember loving to read and loved the Hardy Boys series on TV.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you reviewed this movie. I was a huge Nancy Drew fan and read every book I could get my hands on. I was afraid the movie would be a disappointment. Not because I was worried it wouldn't be a cinematic masterpiece, exactly as I remember the stories I read as a girl. I just want it to be a movie that would interest my kids (even though they are boys) and be appropriate to take them to see.
ReplyDeleteI always thought Nancy was older than sixteen as well. I was sure she was in her twenties (the way I remembered it) and was wondering why they were portraying her to be so young in the movie. Thankfully, a friend set me straight.
ReplyDeleteI loved Nancy Drew and I loved Northern Exposure. And one wonderful night there was an episode of NE that was done as if Maggie was ND. Imagine my joy!
ReplyDelete[Not that this really has much to do with what you wrote here, but I thought I'd share.]
Michelle A--that is TOTALLY how I first saw Sean Cassidy. :)
ReplyDeleteThe Hardy Boys were SO hunky :)
(if I can type that line without cracking up)
And once I outgrew Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden and the others I got into Agatha Christie. Mysteries have always been fun . . .
OH my gosh! Nancy Drew! Yay! I adored her when I was young. Read every one I could get my hands on (I didn't know there was 1,250? Is that true?) Glad the movie won't disappoint. I'll be seeing it now for sure!
ReplyDeleteAnother Nancy Drew lover here! I wa worried that the movie would disappoint. I'm glad it didn't. We have the Nancy Drew computer games. Have you ever played? They are super hard, but tons of fun.
ReplyDeleteI am SO glad to read your review of the Nancy Drew movie! My girls and I are going (hopefully) today; since they don't want to THINK about seeing it with Dad! Lucky me! I can't wait to check it out and to enjoy some "girl time" with my favorite little fruits! Thanks so much for the info!
ReplyDeleteNo, Stie, I was joking. There aren't even close to that many books, though there are a lot of them. Though I don't care for the new ones. Give me the originals.
ReplyDeleteI HEART NANCY!
ReplyDeleteAnd George, Bess (Who has a WEIGHT PROBLEM? PUUUHHHLEEEEASE!), Hannah and Ned Nickerson!!!!
(Though as I have gotten older, I secretly long to have her have at least ONE bitchy moment. Or can 10 lbs. Or have a major acne breakout. I'm kinda petty that way)
I discovered Nancy Drew in 3rd grade and never looked back. I'm with you. I think I've read all of them, but it's hard to know for sure.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the movie would be stupid and annoying, but I'm glad to have the opinion of a fellow long-time fan. I might just have to rent it when in comes out.
I grew up on Nancy Drew and I read every single one of her books ... until the new series came out. Are those any good? I can't wait for my little girl to get hooked on them. I wonder if my books are still in my parents garage?
ReplyDeleteI will have to check the movie out.
Nancy Drew novels are experiencing a rebirth with today's tweens. I loved seeing my students, especially the gifted readers, pulling out a classic Nancy Drew. If only I oculd've found her a few old Trixie Beldens...
ReplyDeleteso glad to hear this movie was GOOD! i read all the nancy drew books i could get my hands on when i was younger, and just got a few NEW ones a few weeks back. they're on MY summer reading list :)
ReplyDeletenow what about cherry ames??
I loved Nancy Drew - they were the first books I read on my own. My mom bought me a new one each time I got sick (not often enough for my liking).
ReplyDeleteLater, I herad about Trixie B. and when I grew up I read every Agatha Christie. Reading so many murder mysteries does something weird to your night time dreams though.
That's great news! I was hoping this would be a winner. I have 3 daughters and this sounds like a great movie for a mom&daughters date.
ReplyDeleteI was a "Trixie Beldon" girl. My Grandma had the whole series so I didn't really have a choice. But I LOVED every book. I'm glad to support fun little family films like this.
ReplyDeleteMy nine year old got her first two Nancy Drew books for her birthday this year. I think I was more excited than she was.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I'm still waiting for a Trixie Beldon movie to come out.
ReplyDeleteI loved Nancy Drew, too, and am going to go to the movie when it comes out! thanks for telling us about it!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to take Hannah and two of her friends to see this for her birthday. FUN!!!
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear it is good my daughter really wants to see it and I used to love reading Nancy Drew too.
ReplyDeleteWent to see it Friday night. My boys (8 & 6) loved it. So don't leave the boys behind thinking its a girlie movie.
ReplyDelete