MovieChat Forums > Nancy Drew (2007) Discussion > Long-time Nancy Drew fan

Long-time Nancy Drew fan

posted 14 years ago by lil_aggeloi
5 replies | jump to latest

This movie was a little weird for me. I started reading Nancy Drew back in the 80's, starting with the original classics and moving on to the "Nancy Drew Case Files" as I got a bit older, so this is a character quite familiar to me - and the character I saw in this movie was not her.

On the positive side, they kept her determination, her curiosity, her intelligence, and her deductive abilities. That was great.

On the less positive side, they made her weird. Her outfits were cute enough, in a retro sense, but the whole naive, completely socially unaware girl in this movie was not the Nancy Drew I knew in the books. She came off as rather clueless when it came to social cues, and it just doesn't fit the original character. It was cute, sure, but that's not who Nancy Drew is.

Additionally, I'm sorry, but she looked twelve. Max. Same for Ned, and this Corky guy looked nine. Maybe ten, if you give it a stretch. And she and Ned are supposed to be old enough to drive? Way too weird. I thought Emma Roberts was adorable, really, but to me, this felt like "Young Nancy Drew" rather than true Nancy Drew - yet she was somehow still able to drive. Weird.

I imagine they were trying to go for a "geek chic" sort of thing, make her "relatable" by being a girl who doesn't fit in, but you can't make a character relatable by just making them someone who doesn't fit in. The kid who shoves quarters up his nose, then eats them, doesn't fit in, but that doesn't make him relatable or hero material. There needs to be something specific to the character that the audience can relate to, and I just didn't find that in her. Unless they were trying to market this movie to Martha Stewart fans, which is what I thought of during the lunch scene. Seriously.

Cute movie, but I can't wait until they make another Nancy Drew movie. With a Nancy Drew who is genuinely like the books. And genuinely old enough to drive. Please.

[–] Screen_Queen 14 years ago

In all honesty, I don't think they were aiming for a true Nancy Drew movie. It's a reinterpretation, I guess. It's set in the modern world and they made it squeaky-clean and childish-fun so it would appeal to lots of kids (particularly those raised on Nickelodeon). Really, it can't be taken seriously. Not as a true Nancy Drew movie anyway. I don't think anyone, not even the studio, intended for it to be, otherwise they are really ridiculous and kidding themselves.

Anyhow I kind of see Nancy Drew as one of those, what I call, "mythical characters" - those that are very hard to bring to life because no one person in real life can capture all their outstanding qualities. Sometimes it's easier to create these characters on paper, and you can imagine them with all their perfections and greatness, but they're hard to physically embody and express all at once. I mean it's not impossible, just really difficult. It would have to be a good actor, and a young one, and, well, that's pretty rare, lol.

"Tool up, honey bunny. It's time to get bad guys."

[–] The-IMDB-Care-Bear 8 years ago

That's the problem trying to mix the old school with the modern.

As a kid at heart, I understood and I gave it a pass.

The film was entertaining and flowed pretty well.

I heard they're making the next Nancy Drew a one eyed Asian girl with a peg leg and a lisp.

SO if you enjoyed this film, keep on enjoying it.

Just Grin And Bare It. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[–] greenbudgie 8 years ago

I enjoyed this old school type of storytelling. I liked the way that Nancy had to fight against being a normal teenager. And dedicate herself to sleuthing against her dad's wishes.

[–] Chefeetaboopers 13 years ago

I hear what you're saying and I'd have to agree.

However, as for the looks thing, you would be VERY shocked to know that there are many of us who NEVER look our age. I looked like I was 11 when I was 16. =P I look about 16 or 17 and I'm 21. People thing my younger sister is older than me.

[–] sierra17 8 years ago

I completely agree!

Where this movie is cute enough but it is a disappointment to ND fans.

I was about 10 when this came out and was reading every original ND book I could get my hands on. I did like this movie because I was kid but my mom (who read them in the early 70s) was disappointed.

One day I do hope they do a movie more from the books. Where the movie is not aimed at kids but people who loved the books as well. So it is very well done.

Or they do a show as some of the people talked about in this thread. It seems right up CW ally.

I personally would love it to take place the 50s or 60s. I would love to see ND and feminism. And all that good stuff!