The Positive:
I had so much fun watching Nancy Drew.
Isn't that what we want from a movie? I left smiling, and I know I'll buy it and watch it again.

The acting - Sophia Lillis is incredible. She's sassy, silly, and spunky. Her version of Nancy is nobody's pushover, and she'll take on anyone she thinks needs to be brought down a peg or two.

While her friends weren't quite as strong, they were solid. Especially mean girl Helen.

The story - Despite never reading the book, I pegged the villain pretty early on. However, this didn't take away from enjoying the ride until Nancy figured it out.

The best thing about Nancy Drew was the friendship. It's rare to have a movie focused on young women that isn't also focused on their relationships with boys. Not so with Nancy. Throughout the film, we get to see the push and pull of teenage friendships - creating new ones and testing the limits of old ones. The way these girls work together to solve the problems they face makes this an A+ film for any teen or tween girl looking for positive role models.

I fell into the story. It absorbed me once it got going. 

The scary - It's silly in hindsight, but Nancy Drew successfully creeped me out in one scene. My defenses were lowered, watching a teen mystery. I never felt truly terrified, but one scene did make me jump and remind myself I was in a movie theater with no one sitting behind me, safe as can be.

The Negative:
The beginning tries too hard. In its effort to set 2019's Nancy apart from the Drews of the past, the first five minutes are devoted to showing her skateboarding down the street of her small town, doing stunts when you can't see her face (thank you, stunt double). 

This is followed by Nancy helping her friend get back at an overdone bully, which leads to a spot of trouble for our feisty redhead, and in turn leads to our mystery.

The overacting of some of the side characters can be a bit much, and it takes away from the focus of the mystery. 

The Rating:
3.5 feathers

Final Verdict:
If you love a good mystery, a strong female lead, and a story about friendship, see Nancy Drew today!

The whole point of acting is to make your audience believe you - your words, your emotions, your plight.  I believed everything that came out of Alex's mouth as he accepted the mantle he'd been given. Just as compelling was Merlin - a teenager on the outside with an old man on the inside. Imrie played Merlin to a T, convincing as both old man and boy, and quirky as all get out.

Though these two shone brightest, their accompanying troupe of young actors left nothing wanting (if Lancelot and Kay were a bit on the wooden side once or twice, it was forgiven).

The directing - I loved the scenery, the cinematography, and the CGI. Nothing felt fake, and the stakes remained high throughout the film.  Joe Cornish presented a world I wanted to be part of.

The story - King Arthur isn't just any old legend you can toss up on the screen. It's a British child's rite of passage. Everyone knows the story of King Arthurt - even in the States.  Taking on a new and fresh telling had to be compelling, intriguing, action-filled, fast-paced, exciting, and daring.

The Kid Who Would Be King hit all the marks. 

I loved being taken for a ride as Alex takes his noble character and broadens it, emboldening himself and his friends while making his enemies join his cause. I loved Alex. I rooted for him Bedivere as they strove to accomplish their task. It's a movie I will repeat watch with not a hint of guilt.

The Negatives:
It was over too quickly. There were some scenes that were surprisingly violent. In the UK I'm sure no one bats an eye, but in the USA, everyone spends so much time shielding their children from EVERYTHING that I think it might go too far for some parents.

The Rating:
4 solid feathers. Maybe even 4.5

Final Verdict:
Why are you still reading this? Go get your King on!