Nancy Drew - review

We all know Nancy Drew: an amateur sleuth who solves mysteries and crimes that no police department seem capable of solving. Starting off as a character in books written by Carolyn Keene, Nancy is now the subject of a movie starring Emma Roberts.

As a teenager with a passion for mysteries, at the start of the movie Nancy finds herself as a hostage during a church robbery in her home town of River Heights, but after sneaking away from the robbers and abseiling down the side of the building thanks to wire she happened to have in her bag, she’s celebrated once again as the one who solved the crime.

But as the town sing her praises again, Nancy and her father leave to move to Los Angeles for her father’s work. As her father asks her to be a normal teenager and stop sleuthing, Nancy finds herself in the middle of an unsolved case when they rent the former home of an actress who disappeared years before and on her return was then found dead during a party.

Unable to stop her mind working overtime, Nancy investigates the house with all its secret passages determined to find out if Dehlia’s death was an accident or something more, but when Nancy receives threatening phone calls and discovers a bomb in her car, she realises she’s trying to uncover something someone else wants to keep hidden.

Despite the threats, Nancy and her friends resolve to find out what really happened all those years ago and bring justice to Dehlia, but with her father imploring her to not sleuth; can she do it without him noticing?

This was a fun movie which was completely unrealistic, but worth a watch.

A Single Man - review

Colin Firth is George Falconer, an English Professor who after the sudden death of his partner, struggles to deal with life in 1960’s Los Angeles.

Shown over the course of one day, George connects with a student who seems as keen on him as George is, spends time with a female friend who having moved to LA from London with him spends her days drinking and also plans his suicide in order to reunite with his beloved Jim.

Co-starring Julianne Moore & Nicholas Hoult, this was a strange, slow and boring movie which made me wonder what the point of it was.

I certainly wouldn’t rush to watch it.

Rock of Ages - review

Release your inner rock god as you take a trip down the Sunset Strip with rock anthems guiding you through your journey of Rock & Roll during the 80’s.

Small town girl Sherrie (Julianne Hough) has a dream of becoming a singer in LA, so with the blessing of her grandma she heads to Hollywood in the hope of finding fame, but with her luggage robbed as soon as she steps off the bus, her dream is tatters until she’s helped by local bartender Drew Boley.

Drew also has dreams of stardom, but with the need for money more important, he hides his ambition and spends his days and nights working for Dennis Dupree the owner of the hippest bar in town – The Bourbon Room.

As Sherrie is offered a job as a waitress alongside Drew, her start in LA is looking up, but as rock legend Staccee Jaxx arrives on the scene to boost the image of the club and protesters attempt to rid the city of rock and roll, both their careers take off in unexpected directions.

With an all star cast including Tom Cruise, Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin & Catherine Zeta Jones, this movie had me smiling and dancing the whole way through – based on the musical (which I loved) – this is definitely one to watch!

Christmas Movies - reviews

The Christmas Gift also known as The Three Gifts

Jack Green is a toymaker and is very busy as the Christmas period approaches, but when his aunt asks him to take in 3 orphans over Christmas he and his wife Cherie welcome them into their home. With no children of their own they jump at the chance of having a big family Christmas, but the 3 boys aren’t the best behaved.

As they help out in the toy factory & get to know the couple, one of them overhears a conversation about the couple planning to adopt one of them – but which one? With the potential for one of them to become part of a family each boy tries to impress the couple with their best behaviour – yet trouble still seems to follow them around.

As Christmas day approaches all 3 boys begin to realise the true meaning of Christmas as they help make toys for the orphanage and with their stay with Jack & Cherie coming to an end, all the boys get a very special surprise.

A warm festive film which makes you realise how important family is during the festive season.

Our First Christmas

A TV drama about a family’s first Christmas following the recent marriage of 2 parents.

When Tory’s mother marries Lily & Jacob’s dad they must decide how they’re going to spend their first Christmas as a new family, but each family has their own traditions.

Lily & Jacob always take part in the local Christmas pageant while Tory and her mum spend the season with her grandmother, so despite pleas from both families to get along, the parents decide the only way to make each child happy is for the family to split up over Christmas.

All the children are happy with this idea as they can have Christmas as normal, but as they get to know each other better they realise that family is the true meaning of Christmas and decide to stay together and create new Christmas traditions.

I enjoyed this movie as it centered on the family aspect of Christmas even though it was set in Los Angeles and there was no snow!

The Santa Suit

Drake Hunter is the ruthless CEO of a big toy company who is driven by money and as the Christmas season sets in he has no Christmas spirit.

With his employees asking for time off or a bonus, Drake is determined not to give into the holiday season, but when his company auditions for people to portray Santa Claus they inadvertently audition the real Santa who after learning of Drake’s negative views of Christmas magically transforms Drake’s appearance into Santa Claus forcing him to work as a store Santa.

As he’s not able to return home due to his appearance, Drake stays at a homeless shelter and bonds with the social worker while he helps a young girl whose only wish is to receive a Hunter doll and begins to appreciate the meaning of Christmas.

I wasn’t sure whether I would enjoy this TV movie when it started as it looked a bit boring, but as it went on I began to feel myself feeling more in the Christmas mood and was glad I watched it. 

The Wishing Tree

A Christmas tree decorated with handwritten wishes helps bring a community together along with teacher Evan and 3 of his students who are unable to go home during the Christmas season.

As they get through the season together, each of the students makes their own wish and end up building a firm friendship between them all.

This movie was good, but only worth a one off watch.