Pardon my ignorance — I am after all male and thus did not read any of the Nancy Drew books because they had cooties — but was the hereditary line between Nancy Drew and MacGyver ever established?
I realize they are both fictional characters, but in the course of the new "Nancy Drew" movie, Nancy Drew (it’s Virginia state law to write her whole name) not only uses crafty gadgets she’s made out common household items, but also diffuses a bomb, is in a high speed car chase and has a gun held to her face.
I don’t know for sure, but I feel that this is not the Nancy Drew you, your mother or your grandmother grew up with; something blatantly clear the moment Nancy Drew (Emma Roberts) moves to L.A. for the summer so that her father, Carson Drew, can start working on a big case. Being Nancy Drew, she finds a house with a mystery about a murdered Hollywood star and can’t help but try to solve it even though she promised her father that she would not sleuth. She enlists the help of the surprisingly funny Corky (Josh Flitter) and her perpetual boyfriend Ned Nickerson who, like in the books, appears out of nowhere.
The filmmakers struggle between updating Nancy Drew or keeping her planted in her prime of the 1950’s. It appears they gave up and decided to do both; and, against all odds, it works. Nancy Drew dresses, talks and walks like she just left filming a scene with Jimmy Stewart, but unfortunately the world around her only knows Jimmy Fallon. This contrast, aside from creating a way for Nancy Drew to be a social pariah, makes her all the more independent, instilling a fantastic sense that this girl can be herself — an idea frequently tarnished in much of today’s cinema.
And does Emma Roberts ever sell it. Although overly chipper throughout – maybe Nancy Drew is on Prozac now – Roberts plays Nancy Drew with charm and wit and a slight arrogance.
Let me stress, again, that I have not read any of the Nancy Drew books. I don't know if the Nancy Drew of the books was actually a ninja. I don’t know if this film is so far removed from Nancy Drew it shouldn’t even be called "Nancy Drew." But I do know that the movie and Emma Roberts have enough pleasant charm to outshine most of the faults and keep a new generation of young girls entertained.
Hopefully it will make them pick up a book or two…or all 175.
<1b>— Matthew Razak