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"NANCY DREW" (2007) (Emma Roberts, Max Thieriot) (PG) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons None Minor Extreme *Moderate Moderate Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate Minor Heavy None Minor Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Mild None Mild Moderate Moderate QUICK TAKE: Drama: A teenage sleuth tries to solve the mystery of a missing film starlet. PLOT: Nancy Drew (EMMA ROBERTS) is a 16-year-old amateur sleuth living in River Heights with her dad Carson (TATE DONOVAN). He's concerned that she's so preoccupied with solving mysteries that she's missing out on normal teenage activities, such as dating Ned Nickerson (MAX THIERIOT), the local boy who's obviously sweet on her. Accordingly, when they temporarily move to Los Angeles, Carson makes her promise that she'll give up being a teenage detective. Unbeknownst to him, however, she's arranged that they rent the house formerly owned by Hollywood starlet Dehlia Draycott (LAURA HARRING), a once promising actress who went missing 25 years ago only to turn up dead in her pool. The mystery of what happened to her was never solved, and that's too tempting for Nancy to pass up, even if caretaker Leshing (MARSHALL BELL) seems a bit too intense, not to mention creepy. While her covert investigation eventually leads her to single mom Jane Brighton (RACHEL LEIGH COOK), Nancy also attends high school where her old-fashioned ways and attire immediately draw the derision of teens such as Inga (DANIELLA MONET) and Trish (KELLY VITZ). Yet, she gains an ally in Inga's 12-year-old brother Corky (JOSH FLITTER) who fancies himself Nancy's boyfriend, especially when Ned eventually shows up. Despite various people obviously not wanting Nancy nosing around a long-abandoned mystery, Nancy sets out to solve it any way she can. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Fans of the book series might, as may those who are fans of anyone in the cast. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG For mild violence, thematic elements and brief language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: EMMA ROBERTS plays a friendly, polite, determined, and old-fashioned 16-year-old with a penchant for solving unsolved mysteries. She does break her promise to her dad to stop her amateur sleuthing, and puts herself and others in harm's way while doing so. MAX THIERIOT plays Nancy's friend from River Heights who's somewhat frustrated that she won't yet let him be her boyfriend, but nevertheless visits and assists her out in Los Angeles. JOSH FLITTER plays a precocious 12-year-old who befriends Nancy, fancies himself as her boyfriend, and assists her in her quest. TATE DONOVAN plays Nancy's dad who's concerned that she isn't behaving and/or experiencing life like a normal teenager should. RACHEL LEIGH COOK plays a single mom who's worried about the repercussions of being linked to Nancy's involvement in solving the case. DANIELLA MONET and KELLY VITZ play two teenagers from Nancy's high school who make fun of her. LAURA HARRING plays the long-dead actress who disappeared 25 years ago only to turn up dead in her pool. MARSHALL BELL plays the intense and somewhat creepy caretaker who services the house and grounds. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a quick look at the content found in this PG-rated drama. A handful of minor expletives are present, as is some colorful language, while there's brief talk of a young couple making out, that of an unwed pregnancy, and a minor character shows a fair amount of cleavage. Violence consists of some characters striking or threatening others, including with a gun as well as a bomb. Those moments, some potential peril, and what initially seem like some ghostly doings may be unsettling or suspenseful for very young viewers, but probably few if any others. Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, while some behavior observed in the film might be enticing for some kids to imitate. Thematic elements (including the past pregnancy as well as talk of a past murder) are also present. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those concerned with bright flashes of light on the screen, there's some of that from paparazzi camera flashes. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, there's some bouncy, sped-up footage of touring about Los Angeles, while there's also some handheld camera work in the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE None. BLOOD/GORE A real estate agent says that there are booby traps (meaning movie related sounds and projections, etc.) inside the rental house that cause people to wet their pants (we don't see that happen). Corky has a slightly bloody cut on his hand. Nancy has a slight abrasion on her head. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Two thieves appear to be trying to rob a church, but Nancy catches them in the act (it's all played for comedy, with bumbling criminals). About Nancy's appearance, a female real estate agent says that with a little work, she could be adorable. An L.A. cop on the phone laughs at Nancy when she calls to report some minor stolen (missing) things in her rental house. Nancy can't help but break her promise to her dad about stopping her sleuthing ways (she tries, but is always drawn back to it). Some girls in high school laugh at the way Nancy looks and acts (old-fashioned). They then plot to have one distract Nancy so that the other can steal her cupcake. When Corky tries to intervene, his sister (one of the girls) pushes the cupcake in his face. Corky appears to be choking, and his sister yells out for anyone who knows CPR to help. Nancy then does that, but the boy starts laughing and his sister complains that he was supposed to kiss Nancy, causing everyone watching to laugh at her. A film director isn't pleased with Nancy interrupting a shot to say it isn't authentic. Those responsible for Dehlia's death in the past and who are currently threatening Nancy to stop investigating ("If you proceed, you will be harmed") obviously have bad attitudes. About liking how Ned appears, Inga nevertheless states, "I don't go for the just got back from slopping the hogs type." Corky has a bad attitude toward Ned when he shows up, and for some reason, Nancy plays down their potential relationship in front of Corky, causing an awkward moment for Ned. About Corky being at a party, his sister sarcastically says she didn't get the memo about it having a "retarded" theme. Some jerks break things at a party, with one falling into a birthday cake. The head villain admits to killing Dehlia in the past. FRIGHTENING SCENES The "scares" and "spooky" material listed here and under "Violence" are played more along the lines of "Scooby Doo" than any sort of real suspense, but younger kids might nevertheless see them that way. Nancy walks along the peak of a roof, but then trips and slides down it toward the edge. She then grabs and dangles from the gutter, but doesn't appear worried as she then safely rappels from that down to the ground below. Nancy sees a ghost of Dehlia in their rental house, and it says, "Please don't be afraid of me," but a real estate agent then laughs and points out that it's just a movie projection on the wall. Leshing's old and grizzled appearance (and solemn and nearly intimidating demeanor) might be unsettling for some younger kids. Nancy hears odd sounds in her rental house, but doesn't find anyone there. Nancy hears more odd sounds in the house, including footsteps up in the attic, but she doesn't find anyone there. Corky appears to be choking, and his sister yells out for anyone who knows CPR to help. Nancy then does that, but the boy starts laughing and his sister complains that he was supposed to kiss Nancy, causing everyone watching to laugh at her. An SUV nearly hits Nancy and Corky, with her pushing a fence gate in its path and the SUV blasts through that. Dehlia's ghost (presumably another movie projection) tells Nancy where to look for her will. Nancy finds a bomb in her car, and then runs in slow motion to throw it down a hole in the street. She succeeds, the bomb explodes, and Nancy is knocked to the ground, unconscious. She then comes to, and is fine after that. Nancy receives another threatening call to give up her investigation. Inga yells for someone to help her friend Trish who needs CPR. Nancy thinks it's another joke, but Inga says her friend has a peanut allergy, and some guy there says he had been making out with Trish (thus causing the reaction from him -- the making out is not seen). Nancy then performs an emergency tracheotomy on Trish (we hear, but don't see the act, but others do and adversely react). Jane describes a villain, and we then see that he's outside Nancy's house. Nancy realizes too late that her new cell phone is being used to track her location. Just then, some men grab and put her in a vehicle, with a cloth across her face (presumably soaked with something to knock her out). Nancy tries to sneak out of a room and through a warehouse, above the men who kidnapped her. They're watching TV, as she slowly proceeds across a catwalk, stopping when it squeaks. She then lowers a paper clip on a string to try to retrieve Dehlia's will, and manages to do so without them seeing her (although it seems they might notice at any moment). She then ends up falling off a board, thus alerting them to her escape. She then runs, they chase her, and she jumps down to the top of a truck as it drives away, thus eluding the villains. However, they catch up to her in her car, and repeatedly bump her from behind, causing her to spin and sideswipe another car. Various villains show up at Nancy's house, prompting her to run and them to give chase. She makes her way through a tunnel, but the head villain grabs her there, and then has both hands on her head, saying, "I'll squeeze it out of you" (referring to info she has about Dehlia). Nancy knees the head villain in the crotch and tries to run, but he grabs her foot. She then kicks him back, but stops when a thug pulls out his handgun. Leshing then hits that man and the head villain on the head with a shovel, and then grabs the handgun and holds it on the other villains until the police arrive. GUNS/WEAPONS Nancy finds a bomb in her car, and then runs in slow motion to throw it down a hole in the street. She succeeds, the bomb explodes, and Nancy is knocked to the ground, unconscious. She then comes to, and is fine after that. Nancy knees the head villain in the crotch and tries to run, but he grabs her foot. She then kicks him back, but stops when a thug pulls out his handgun. Leshing then hits that man and the head villain on the head with a shovel, and then grabs the handgun and holds it on the other villains until the police arrive. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Crank-enstein," "Crank-osaurus," "Crank-a doodle dandy," "Gotta scoot," "La-La Land," "I'm such an oaf," "Honey cheeks," "Hi, baby, how ya doing?" "OMG" (written as computer text for "Oh my God"), "Shut up," "Porky," "Oh, you idiot," "You're awesome," "Mister fancy pants," "Why in the name of sweet Christmas?" "Nice try, squirt," "I'm kinda freaking out about it," "I don't go for the just got back from slopping the hogs type," "This is so non-linear," "Deal with it," "This is nuts," "What the hell is that all about?" "That man has always given me the willies," "I didn't get the memo about it being a retarded theme," "Holy crap," "Insane freak idiot," "Enough of this crap" and "Hey, Lurch." Nancy slides on her clothed butt down a hand railing. We see a miscellaneous student with multi-color hair. Some girls in high school laugh at the way Nancy looks and acts (old-fashioned). They then plot to have one distract Nancy so that the other can steal her cupcake. When Corky tries to intervene, his sister (one of the girls) pushes the cupcake in his face. Corky appears to be choking, and his sister yells out for anyone who knows CPR to help. Nancy then does that, but the boy starts laughing and his sister complains that he was supposed to kiss Nancy, causing everyone watching to laugh at her. A director has tattoos. Nancy uses a large brownie to bribe a city worker for some information about Dehlia. A miscellaneous person has many tattoos. Inga wears a midriff-revealing top. A miscellaneous person has a pierced eyebrow, as well as tattoos. Nancy jumps from a moving car and rolls on the street (to get away from villains). JUMP SCENES Nancy turns and Leshing is suddenly there. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A heavy amount of suspenseful and ominous music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 2 craps, 1 hell, 6 uses of "Oh my God" (1 written as "OMG" in computer text) and 2 uses of "Oh God." SEX/NUDITY A real estate agent shows a fair amount of cleavage. Nancy wonders if Dehlia was pregnant in the past (since she wasn't ever photographed/filmed from the chest down after a certain point), and that's later confirmed. Inga yells for someone to help her friend Trish who needs CPR. Nancy thinks it's another joke, but Inga says her friend has a peanut allergy, and some guy there says he had been making out with Trish (thus causing the reaction from him -- the making out is not seen). The head villain states that Leshing is Jane's father (meaning he had a fling and/or secret love affair with Dehlia). Nancy and Ned briefly kiss. SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES Carson is concerned about Nancy, not only in the moment of her precarious behavior, but also in her always sleuthing rather than being a "normal" teen. Nancy states that she doesn't remember her mom (who died when Nancy was very young). Jane states that her adoptive mom passed away in the past, and that she then had to get away from her adoptive dad. Jane is upset when she tells Nancy that child protective services took her young daughter away. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Carson is concerned about Nancy, not only in the moment of her precarious behavior, but also in her always sleuthing rather than being a "normal" teen. We hear that Dehlia went missing 25 years ago, then came back and had a party, but was then found floating dead in the pool. Nancy wonders if Dehlia was pregnant in the past (since she wasn't ever photographed/filmed from the chest down after a certain point), and that's later confirmed. We learn that Jane was evicted from her home. Carson not being upset with Nancy having a wild party at their house (although it wasn't her plan for it to be wild) since he thinks that means she's being a normal teen rather than an amateur sleuth. Jane is upset when she tells Nancy that child protective services took her young daughter away. VIOLENCE Some cops briefly struggle with some thieves when they arrest them (played lightly). We see that some thieves have a nerdy guard bound and gagged, but he's sleeping like a baby. Corky's sister pushes a cupcake in his face. A film director trips and falls, but is okay. An SUV nearly hits Nancy and Corky, with her pushing a fence gate in its path and the SUV blasts through that. Nancy finds a bomb in her car, and then runs in slow motion to throw it down a hole in the street. She succeeds, the bomb explodes, and Nancy is knocked to the ground, unconscious. She then comes to, and is fine after that. Nancy chases (in her car) after an escaping SUV that blasts through a street cart and runs through a red light. Corky pinches Ned's leg. Corky trips and falls, but is okay. Some jerks break things at a party, with one falling into a birthday cake. Nancy realizes too late that her new cell phone is being used to track her location. Just then, some men grab and put her in a vehicle, with a cloth across her face (presumably soaked with something to knock her out). Some villains repeatedly bump Nancy's car from behind, causing her to spin and sideswipe another car. Nancy jumps from a moving car and rolls on the street (to get away from villains, one of which then punches Carson who's still in the car). Various villains show up at Nancy's house, prompting her to run and them to give chase. She makes her way through a tunnel, but the head villain grabs her there, and then has both hands on her head, saying, "I'll squeeze it out of you" (referring to info she has about Dehlia). Nancy knees the head villain in the crotch and tries to run, but he grabs her foot. She then kicks him back, but stops when a thug pulls out his handgun. Leshing then hits that man and the head villain on the head with a shovel, and then grabs the handgun and holds it on the other villains until the police arrive. Reviewed May 15, 2007 / Posted June 15, 2007

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