(Note: To the fans of my sports-related posts, I’m not ignoring that beat—I’m just going to be so distracted until the Pistons re-sign Billups that I’ve got to focus on other things.  Bear with me, shouldn’t be more than another day or two.)

I love Nancy Drew.  I read all of my mom’s old mysteries when I was younger, sometimes staying in bed for hours to finish one of the yellow-bound volumes in a single sitting!  Nancy was smart, resourceful, and self-assured.  She had a gorgeous boyfriend (the charming Ned Nickerson), two best friends (plump Bess and sporty George), and a seemingly infallible talent for solving crimes.  I admired Nancy’s bravery, envied her independence, and generally wanted to grow up just like the stylish teenager with the “titian hair.”  

This summer, Nancy’s back, in her first live-action film.  I checked out a matinee yesterday at Gallery Place, and spent much of the delightful 99 minute movie in sheer nostalgic enjoyment.  I also got a little scared during some of the more suspenseful moments, which should explain to my friends why I avoid going to see actual horror flicks.

The New York Times hated this new interpretation of Nancy Drew, and so did Entertainment Weekly.  While I appreciate what these publications’ film critics had to say about the film’s lack of depth, and lead actress Emma Roberts’ unexciting performance, I must respectfully agree to disagree.  The movie captures the spirit of simplicity and tradition that make Nancy such an inimitable character, beloved by generations of young women and girls.  As “family films” go, I give the casting director points for finding high school kids who look like high school kids (Roberts is sixteen), as opposed to overly made up “mini-adults” (i.e. 1995 teen classic Clueless’s 19-year-old Alicia Silverstone, or even 2006 High School Musical’s 21-year-old Ashley Tisdale).

Emma Roberts’ clean, simple acting (no melodrama here) shines through the often predictable plotline and dialogue.  This new, “millennial” Nancy might not be the most popular girl in her Hollywood high school, but she refuses to become anyone other than who she is.  While other teen heroines might ditch their penny loafers and a-line dresses for ripped jeans and Pumas, Nancy warmly, patiently, and ultimately victoriously, makes a case for being true to oneself.  For a teenage girl, that’s pretty brave.  Even Nancy’s G-rated flirtations with boyish boyfriend Ned offer a lesson to young girls—just because Britney and Christina sang about sex at an early age, doesn’t mean that Nancy and Ned have to rush into an adult relationship.

I didn’t solve mysteries when I was a teen, but I had some pretty weird hobbies that I felt pretty insecure about sharing with my peers (not too many suburban Detroit teenagers listened religiously to country music).  Nancy’s “sleuthing” habits and “old-fashioned” outfits might make it tougher for her to fit in at school, but her independence will ultimately help her grow into a well-balanced, unique, and confident young woman.  And I can’t think of a better role model for today’s girls than someone like that.