I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. Emma Roberts does a good job of portraying the teen sleuth. Tate Donovan is engaging for the small amount of time he's on screen. And, the host of supporting characters are enjoyable. (There are some fairly...
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I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it. Emma Roberts does a good job of portraying the teen sleuth. Tate Donovan is engaging for the small amount of time he's on screen. And, the host of supporting characters are enjoyable. (There are some fairly amusing cameos by Adam Goldberg and Bruce Willis).
However, the film does have some problems. First, it needs to decide what it wants to be. Is it a serious attempt to update the girl detective and bring her to the 21st century? Or, is it meant to be a campy, kitschy over the top comedy? The director clearly tries for somewhere in the middle, and it just doesn't work.
I also thought to much time was spent setting up Nancy as the outcast in LA. these scenes were just awkward and uncomfortable. For someone as bright and engaging as Nancy is supposed to be, she acts in silly and unexplainable ways. She appears to make no effort to make friends or to understand her new classmates. Instead, she just continues on.
Overall, it's ok. Preteens will probably enjoy it quite a bit, but adults won't get the same enjoyment.