Let me take you back to the summer of 2011. To say it was hot in the state of Texas is an understatement, and I decided to become a cart pusher for Target. So my days went as followed. Wake up at noon. Go into Target and push carts inside until the sun went down. Then, when I was thoroughly exhausted, come home and watch the 2007 Nancy Drew movie until I fell asleep. I did this for two months straight. I don’t remember why I settled on this movie to be the background noise that I used to soundtrack my slumber but nevertheless, this is the one. And you know what, this movie is amazing.
I don’t care that is has a 49% on rotten tomatoes and stars secondary characters from Disney Channel t.v. shows, Nancy Drew did something that children’s movies nowadays would never do. I was a completely serious plot about a murder that never felt like it was trying too hard. At no point in the movie did I feel like Nancy was in over her head. The film reassured me time and time again that Nancy was a capable young lady who could take care of herself and I was just a spectator along for the ride. It doesn’t even downplay the fact the CPS was called on the mother in the movie and her daughter was taken away from her. It deals with loss, love, and acceptance in a way that is very mature for a movie aimed at children. It also gets points for expert use of a Corinne Bailey Rae song in a scene that makes me cry to this day.
Last but definitely not least the soundtrack of this film is astonishing. A mix of pop and alternative with just the right amount of indie to compliment Nancy’s personality. In the beginning, a song is playing over the film and it turns out that she is listening to it while doing research in a scene that is oddly human. Not only that but I found myself understanding her more based on the music she listened to. This movie may not be a cult classic or one of the best movies of all time and I’m sure this didn’t help Emma Roberts career that much but her portrayal of a character that I grew to love so much will forever be in my top ten movies of all time.
Pause For Snacks 