For more than 75 years, tales featuring that adventurous teenage sleuth Nancy Drew have captivated the imaginations of young girls. From the original books penned by Toledo Blade reporter Mildred Wirt Benson (writing under the pseudonym of Carolyn Keene) to the 1930s films starring Bonita Granville, to the more recent “Nancy Drew” television projects, the perky young amateur detective has maintained a charming and wholesome influence on young women coming of age and learning to make their own way in the world. 

Now a new Nancy Drew has arrived on the scene in the engaging form of Emma Roberts, a young actress of much promise who also happens to have some pretty serious acting genes flowing through her veins. The daughter of Eric Roberts and the niece of Oscar-winning actress Julia Roberts, Emma Roberts clearly has grown up surrounded by examples of good performances. 

In “Nancy Drew,” Roberts gets a chance to exercise her acting chops in some new ways.  While set in the present day, the character of Nancy is unquestionably an old-fashioned girl — in every sense of the word.  She is unfailingly honest and forthright.  Extremely bright and frighteningly good at everything she does.  Before we even get into the sleuthing department, it’s evident that Nancy Drew is so perfect you often wonder if she’s totally human.  She’s tops in academics, an outstanding athlete, a neat-freak who would put Martha Stewart to shame. And speaking of the Domestic Diva, I’m not sure her cupcakes would measure up to the picture-perfect ones Nancy turns out in this film. 

In this reincarnation, our resourceful heroine leaves her cozy little River Heights home, an Everytown, Middle America, for the totally different world of Los Angeles — and Hollywood High School in particular. The reason for the move is that Nancy’s father, Carson Drew (Tate Donovan), has a shot at a terrific new job on the West Coast. 

From the get-go, the au courant teens at Nancy’s new school are befuddled by the new kid. Nancy Drew  — in the jaded eyes of the ever-so-trendy Inga and Trish — takes the concept of nerd to a whole new level. But, naturally, Nancy is completely unfazed by the lack of a warm welcome. Though her father has strictly told her she must leave her amateur detective days behind her, we all know that’s a promise Nancy cannot keep. Her only failing as a virtually perfect person? The insatiable desire to sleuth out mysteries every chance she gets. 

In Los Angeles that sleuthing focuses on the less-than-kosher circumstances surrounding the death of famous actress, Dehlia Draycott, who owned the house Nancy and her dad (a bit too coincidentally) are renting. The house is reportedly haunted, and Nancy wants to get to the bottom of the strange goings-on. 

We should not hold the movie’s failings against the young star cast in the title role. While this silly film is often unfocused and poorly directed, you cannot ignore Emma Roberts’ clear star potential. She’s a gifted young actress who can handle dramatic moments (even when forced to deliver ridiculous lines!) with poise and convincing emotion. She’s also good as the perfect “straight man” — as we often see in her scenes with an unexpected new sidekick, Corky, played perfectly by Josh Flitter. 

Unfortunately, Roberts and Flitter and the rest of the cast are not given much to work with here. Director Andrew Fleming doesn’t seem to know which way to go.  At times, the film feels like a period piece. The next moment we’re jarringly thrown into a very 2007 setting, complete with today’s dialogue and feeling. I get the fact that Nancy Drew is supposed to be a timeless icon, who dresses in a retro manner and enunciates in perfectly polite 1950s-speak to reflect that, and yet the movie just doesn’t gel. I’m sure ‘tween girls will enjoy “Nancy Drew” on some level, but overall the picture feels lame. It’s a disappointing revival of a classic character. 

Nancy Drew

★★



Starring: Emma Roberts, Josh Flitter and Max Thieriot

Director: Andrew Fleming

Rated: PG for mild   violence, thematic elements and brief language