What classics did you see last week, Apr 24 to Apr 30?

  

I think this was probably my third or fourth viewing of this movie (which I've recorded and watched whenever it's been on TV here since the first time I watched it years ago). I never even knew about Nancy Drew or who she was until I heard her being referenced a lot in shows and movies that I watched - that's why I checked out the movie the first time I watched it, as I wanted to know just who this Nancy Drew person was that characters in things kept referencing/comparing other characters to. Being someone who draws, I appreciated the opening credits with the line art depicting Nancy and her sleuthing. It was a good way of summing up the types of adventures she'd been on previously and getting across the fact that she'd oftentimes find herself in potentially dangerous situations whilst doing so.




Our introduction to the character herself, spying on thugs, hiding, then being found out and cheerily greeting them whilst answering their "Who are you?" question with her own inquiry of "May I ask who you are?" all quickly established Nancy's personality, quirks and what sort of movie this would be. Yes, it's a 'family' film, there's certainly a level of suspending disbelief required, but I thought Emma Roberts was really good in the role (and it's the only time I can recall seeing her play a 'nice' girl, as all I've ever seen her play otherwise is the 'mean girl'...to put it politely). 



Speaking of politeness, I appreciated Nancy's good manners, kindness and cheery nature - which requires a fine balance, as too much perkiness can get rather irritating, but I thought Emma Roberts really embodied this character who felt like she was from a different time period (and not just because of the clothes she wore - which were great, btw). SO many kid/teenager characters in movies and shows are beyond annoying, have bad attitudes and are just so obnoxious/horrible, that it was a breath of fresh air to see Nancy *not* be like those types. Her main 'flaw' was that she couldn't give up sleuthing (like Veronica Mars, she was rather addicted to it, it seemed). The way she'd greet everyone below as she stood on the roof, saying, "Hi, everybody!", waving to them, then telling the she'd be down in a jiffy, managing to rescue herself from the roof instead of needing the fire department to do so was, I thought, quite endearing.



It was kind of funny to see a young Max Thieriot as Ned, as I'd gotten used to seeing him in the TV series Bates Motel and more recently SEAL Team, where he was considerably older and sported facial hair. Anyway, his dream that he told Nancy about amused me: 

"I had this dream during my nap today...you went to California, met that guy on Smallville...and you got amnesia...and forgot you ever met me, and then I turned into a squirrel. Anyway, what do you think that means?"

I was not expecting the Smallville reference when I watched the movie the first time, and had basically forgotten about it until I heard it again upon my first rewatch...but it still amused me. I was also amused by the crooks ("Please don't thank her for turning us in.") and the Police Chief's reaction to the priest's prayer as Nancy left:

"Dear Lord, please watch over Nancy Drew...and protect her as she strives to solve mysteries...that are beyond the abilities of local law enforcement agencies."

Even the not-so-subtle safety message about not being distracted while driving was sort of amusing:

Nancy: "Dad? Don't you think people who talk on cell phones, um, miss things?"
Nancy's Father: "Like what, hon?"
Nancy: "Like that woman in the street!"
Nancy's Father: *slams on the brakes*

Another funny bit was her reading a book titled 'Advanced Sandcastle Making'.

The song which we hear some of over the opening credits, then again partway into the movie, was one that I'd heard on the radio a few times and liked. It's a cover of 'Blue Monday'. I was surprised to hear it in the movie, but I thought it was used well and added a nice 'mood' to things.



Also surprising was seeing Brue Willis make a cameo as himself (this was a fun cameo from a big name star, and better than others I've seen). I liked that Nancy pointed out the inaccuracies with the dialogue for the time period the movie was supposed to be set in and that Brillis wasn't angry at her (in fact, he was impressed), but instead angry at the director. The guy playing the appropriately named 'Arrogant Director Andy', who I've seen in a few things, was very annoying - but since that was his character, I thought he played it well. 

Something else I liked about Nancy, besides her good manners, inquisitive nature and adventurous spirit, was that she was smart and excelled in school - not only with book smarts, but athletics as well - as oftentimes the two are portrayed as mutually exclusive (like someone can't be smart and athletic), but here she did both. And what made it tolerable (as opposed to her being 'too perfect') was that she didn't seem to rub her knowledge/athleticism (plus, the fact that she could paint!) in others' faces. It actually seemed as though she was oblivious to her knowledge and other skills not being 'the norm'. 






Of course, there had to be the typical 'mean girl' stuff in the cafeteria. I felt bad for her, as she was perceived as 'weird' for dressing nicely/being neat and tidy, eating healthy food and being courteous to others. I thought Corky would be super annoying, and while at times I did find him to be so, on the whole he wasn't too bad and thankfully remained tolerable for the most part (though his come-ons to Nancy were a bit questionable. At least she didn't 'lead him on' and made it quite clear that they were only going to be friends). I was glad that he stuck up for her when he saw the mean girls nick her cupcake (though I was later surprised to discover one of them was his sister - given how she treated him. Though maybe that's how siblings are? Not ever having had any, I wouldn't know). It was weird, however, that although he seemed to recognise Nancy's awesomeness...he went along with his sister's plan later.



The mean girls and their setting up for Corky to kiss Nancy after she saved him from choking was really nasty...and kind of weird. She just saved someone from choking to death (even if it were an act)! I don't know, there always seems to be this weird thing where mean kids in movies/shows laugh at the 'outsider' for things they should really be praising them for. It's odd. Knowing CPR is nothing to be laughed at. I'm glad Nancy had Corky, then later on Ned, as it always ticks me off in movies/shows when the 'nice' girls are considered 'boring' by some viewers. Like, you have to be mean to be considered 'interesting', when in fact she deserved to have plenty of friends. She just seemed genuinely nice, and not in a 'holier-than-thou' sort of way either. 



Ned didn't have a whole lot to do, other than be there for Nancy as a friend...but wanting to be more. I could sympathise with him, though, at being utterly confused by teenage girls and their apparent habit for speed-talking...







I appreciated that Nancy's relationship with Ned was pretty drama-free. There weren't any horrible misunderstandings, she didn't treat him badly, he wasn't a jerk to her...they were just nice together. And good on this movie for not having Nancy obsess about a guy. The person she cared most about in her life was her dad, her passion was sleuthing and the guy wasn't her main focus. 





I thought it was unique for Nancy to use food (which her housekeeper back home, I think, had made) as bribes in getting information. Also, I admired her rather calm reaction to finding a bomb, having to dump it down a manhole (just as well no one was down there) and her nonchalant attitude towards nearly getting killed:



Nancy: "Usually when someone tries to kill me, it means I'm on to something."

Also, good on her for being prepared for everything by having a 'sleuth kit' (including First Aid). I personally thought her fashion sense was far superior to all those who mocked it. I'm glad the boutique clerk agreed and had a go at the mean girl's dress sense instead. Nancy had NOTHING to be ashamed of regarding the way she dressed.





I was amused by how Nancy sincerely complimented Ned and Corky on their streamer hanging...meanwhile, hers was a work of art and made theirs look...well...not so great. I also liked her dancing style.



The typical teenage party which got out of hand was to be expected...though the tracheotomy certainly wasn't (of course, they didn't actually show anything even mildly bloody, but everyone's reactions were pretty funny/sold it. It also showed once again that Nancy's skills were useful and not to be scoffed at). I did like that her father wasn't mad about the party-that-got-out-of-hand (which is what usually happens in these situations in movies - the cop even comments as much). Barry Bostwick managed to actually be a bit creepy when the reveal about him occurred - obviously nothing 'bad' was going to happen to Nancy, her father or anyone else in the movie, but I think they managed to create a sense of 'danger' within the parameters of what this type of movie could allow. I think Nancy getting herself into dangerous situations would be considered a 'flaw', so I thought that kept her from being 'too perfect'.



I did like that, once again, she was pretty level-headed in dangerous situations when she was about to be killed...

Nancy: "If you shoot me, that'll leave all kinds of evidence. Really messy."
Thug: *prepares to strangle Nancy*
Nancy: "Strangulation leaves a traceable handprint."
Biedermeyer: "What do you suggest?"
Nancy: "The best way to kill me? Hm, let me think about that. Um..."

And then he was about to shoot her - so it wasn't just weak threats, there was an actual element of 'danger' (even though we knew it'd all work out in the end). I also could have done without the mention of cat/kitten drowning earlier in the movie. Seemed a bit too 'dark' for this film. 

I liked that the movie had 'heart' to it, and thought the father/daughter relationship was good. I found it was refreshing that the daughter wasn't hating her father and thinking he was the 'worst ever' and being 'embarrassed' by him all the time. Yes, they disagreed at times, but on the whole I thought they had a pretty healthy father/daughter relationship. While one might wonder why a father would want to keep his daughter, who was a super sleuth, from doing what she did best...it made sense in that he was trying to keep her safe (and we'd seen there was reason to be concerned for her safety, given how many times she almost died). I was just thankful that we never really saw Nancy yelling at her father in a fit of rage and storming off, slamming doors and being the typical 'brat' that we so often see in movies/shows from daughter characters when it comes to their father trying to keep them safe.



I thought the movie did a good job on the whole. There were some minor quibbles, but at least it didn't irritate me much (which is more than I can say for most kid's movies). It all more or less 'worked', I think, and I'm surprised it wasn't better received, as I've seen a LOT worse (and out of the three live-action versions of the Nancy Drew character that I've seen - this one, the one I watched at the start of the week with Sophia Lillis and the TV series currently airing - this is by FAR my 'favourite'. There's no cynicism here). I feel the best/most effective movies to have used characters from 'old shows' or, in this case, 'old books' are the ones that keep those characters firmly stuck in the era they're from...but it's just everyone else around them has changed/are more 'modern' (other cases of this would be the Tim Burton Addams Family movies, the two Brady Bunch movies and the 1993 Beverly Hillbillies movie). There's something about characters who seem like they're from a different era being put into the 'modern' era that proves much better than just trying to 'update' them. People tend to dismiss Emma Roberts as not very good, but I think she excelled in this role and pretty much held the whole film together. It's a shame that there was only the one movie...but at least it was a good one (at least *I* thought so, anyway). 

Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot (aka The Penguin).