Get a Clue (G, 2002)

In GET A CLUE, teen Lexy Gold (Lindsay Lohan) is living a life of privilege in Manhattan, doted on by her mother and her father, a New York Times reporter, when she's not being annoyed by her gadget-happy younger sister. Lexy's main concerns are fashion and shopping with her best friend Jennifer (Brenda Song), followed by her own journalistic efforts as the school newspaper's advice columnist. When one of Lexy's stories triggers the disappearance of a favorite teacher, she and her friends must use their own skills -- including, in Lexy's case, her incredible knowledge of shopping -- to solve the mystery.

The movie features a talented and likable cast, including Lindsay Lohan just before she lost her child-like charm. The story zips along with the help of an upbeat soundtrack, funky costumes, and Manhattan backdrops (filmed in Toronto) designed to inspire location envy. Lexy and her friends overcome minor differences to cooperate and are motivated by the words of Lexy's loving dad, who tells her that hard work, imagination, and luck can accomplish almost anything. There's a complicated embezzlement scheme that will confuse kids younger than 10.

The problem is that even as Lexy's eyes are opened to the problems she's caused and the fact that one of her friends -- gasp -- lives in Brooklyn, not Manhattan, her shallowness doesn't really diminish. Her "insane obsession with material objects," as one of her classmates describes it, instead becomes a secret weapon, helping her identify fake private detectives wearing expensive watches and a jewel discounted as a flea market find. Lexy may be well-meaning, but she's no role model for parents who want their daughters to embrace more than the latest fashion magazines.

Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Director: Maggie Greenwald
Cast: Amanda Plummer, Brenda Song, Lindsay Lohan
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 83 minutes
Theatrical release: July 2, 2002
DVD release: July 2, 2002
MPAA Rating: G
MPAA explanation: General Audiences