By Katherine Ramsland
(Continued)
Nancy enrolls in a high school and tries to fit in, but she's bright to the point of one-ups-man-ship and wears prim and proper clothing from the 1960s, so other kids notice her, and not in a good way. She's got a style all her own, which attracts a strange little side-kick but antagonizes the stereotypical "cool" kids. Nancy's mettle is tested as she encounters the fast-paced lives of narcissistic kids with little depth and plenty of brazen cruelty. To her credit, she elects to continue as she is, believing that her choices are better for her character (they are).
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| Emma Roberts |
These adolescent issues quickly dissolve when Nancy's addiction sets in. The case of the dead actress beckons and Nancy acquires significant items that everyone else overlooked, figures out where the woman went for those missing months, and perceives what must be done to resolve the mystery. However, it's not as easy as it looks. A caretaker warns her that "everyone who has tried to piece this together has run into trouble." Indeed, as she follows the clues, there are several attempts on Nancy's life, especially as she gets closer to the ultimate revelation. Undeterred, she keeps chipping away at all the unknowns with her fast-talking style, observant perspective, and "always prepared" manner. (She even carries treats for bribes.)
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| Nancy Drew Crew |
The fun of the novels, as with any mystery, is that successive clues provide readers with a sense of suspense and an interest in knowing how each one fits as parts to the whole. To some extent, the movie honors this, although the clues are discovered and figured out too fast. They're so obvious one can't help but wonder why no one else solved this before — especially those with a fortune at stake. Still, it's nice to see a film for girls, ages 10-12, that presents a strong role model in the crime-solving genre who also retains decorum, has healthy ambitions, and aspires to do things for others. She even knows advanced medical procedures and can build a scale model of a cathedral.
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