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Are you a sports fan looking for some inspiration? Disney+ is now streaming some of the best true stories found in American sports movies. If you’re a fan of sports, then you’ll love these films. They are packed with exciting moments and thrilling storylines. Here are 10 must-watch sports movies streaming on Disney Plus now.

#10. “Secretariat” (2010)

IMDb Rating: 7.2/10 | Metascore: 61 | CinemaScore: A

“Secretariat” is based on the story of Penny Chenery Tweedy (Diane Lane), who owned Secretariat, one of the greatest racehorses in history. The film follows Secretariat’s rise to fame and his legendary Triple Crown win in 1973.

One of the most iconic moments of the film is Secretariat’s record-breaking victory in the 1973 Belmont Stakes, where he won by an incredible 31 lengths, setting a new world record that still holds today. This historic win solidified Secretariat’s place in horse racing history and earned him the nickname “Big Red.

Beloved actor and comedian Jim Carrey has been portraying now President-elect Joe Biden on Saturday Night Live throughout the current season, and though many find his impersonation downright hilarious, others have found it a little excessive and not at all an accurate representation of the politician.

But Carrey’s most recent skit as Biden – wherein he gives a victory speech following winning the election – featured a hilarious callback to one of the actor’s most popular roles, Ace Ventura, who he played in both Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and the equally funny sequel Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls. While delivering the speech, the actor used one of the character’s catchphrases to great effect, which served as a reminder to nostalgic fans of just how much they miss him.

Needless to say, the internet is eating it up, and now people are demanding that Carrey reprise his part as the...

“It” star Sophia Lillis will play teen detective Nancy Drew in Warner Bros.’ movie adaptation of “Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase.”

The producers are Ellen DeGeneres and Jeff Kleeman through their A Very Good Production company, along with Chip Diggins. Filming is expected to start in May. Wendy Williams is executive producing.

The story, first published in 1930, was written by Mildred Wirt Benson. Warner Bros. also made a film adaptation of the book in 1939, starring Bonita Granville.

The story centers on a pair of elderly sisters and their strange experiences in their Victorian-era house, leading to the duo being accused of murder. Nancy must act quickly to save the sisters from jail.

Warner Bros. released 2007’s “Nancy Drew,” starring Emma Roberts as Nancy Drew, Josh Flitter, and Max Thieriot. The pic was directed by Andrew Fleming and grossed $30 million worldwide.

Lillis, 16, made her acting debut in 2014 in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Remember Corky from the 2007 tween thriller Nancy Drew? Well he's all grown up and still friends with his former leading lady Emma Roberts! The actress shared a photo of her meet-up with Nancy Drew costar Josh Flitter on Instagram and Twitter Thursday. "How's this for #Tbt ?! 10 years ago @flittography and I did #NancyDrew together," Roberts, 25, captioned her then-and-now collage. How's this for #Tbt ?! 10 years ago @flittography and I did #NancyDrew together !!!! A photo posted by Emma Roberts (@emmaroberts) on Sep 15, 2016 at 4:06pm Pdt Flitter, 22, also explained, "an insane #tbt .. seeing @emmaroberts for the first time in 10 years! so happy to hang with you again!

Remember Corky from the 2007 tween thriller Nancy Drew? Well he's all grown up and still friends with his former leading lady Emma Roberts! The actress shared a photo of her meet-up with Nancy Drew costar Josh Flitter on Instagram and Twitter Thursday. "How's this for #Tbt ?! 10 years ago @flittography and I did #NancyDrew together," Roberts, 25, captioned her then-and-now collage. How's this for #Tbt ?! 10 years ago @flittography and I did #NancyDrew together !!!! A photo posted by Emma Roberts (@emmaroberts) on Sep 15, 2016 at 4:06pm Pdt Flitter, 22, also explained, "an insane #tbt .. seeing @emmaroberts for the first time in 10 years! so happy to hang with you again!

To mark the release of Snowmen on DVD 12th November, we’ve been given three copies of the animated movie to give away. The film features voices from Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future) and Ray Liotta (Goodfellas).

After a surprising discovery in the snow catapults three best friends into the spotlight, they hatch a plan to do something that matters; to set their very own Guinness World Record, constructing more snowmen than anyone has ever done before. Along the way, the trio battle schoolyard bullies, unite their community and discover that – while fame may be fleeting – true friendship lasts forever.

Starring Ray Liotta (Goodfellas) and Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future) amongst a host of new, up and coming talent, including Bobby Coleman as hero Billy Kirkfield, Bobb’e J Thompson as Howard Garvey and Josh Flitter as baddie Jason Bound, Snowmen won four Awards on its release including...

Fox has given a pilot order to Prodigy Bully, a half-hour comedy written by Glee co-star Mike O’Malley and executive produced by John Wells. Based on the Prodigy Bully one-minute movies by Hank Perlman, the comedy centers on a young boy genius who uses his brains and brawn to get whatever he wants. John Wells Prods. and Warner Bros TV are producing, with Wells, Paris Barclay and Jwp’s Andrew Stearn executive producing and O’Malley co-executive producing. This is the second time Prodigy Bully has gotten to a pilot stage. Jwp and Wbtv first took a stab at developing a single-camera comedy based on the Prodigy Bully shorts during the 2005-2006 season. Titled Prodigy/Bully, the project was picked up to pilot at NBC, with Perlman and Steve Elliott writing, Perlman directing, Wells, Barclay and Jon Feldman executive producing and Josh Flitter playing the lead, 9-year-old Henry Tammer.

Title: Snowmen Directed by: Robert Kirbyson Starring: Bobby Coleman, Josh Flitter, Bobb’e J. Thompson, Doug E. Doug, Christopher Lloyd, and Ray Liotta Running time: 86 minutes, PG Three friends in a small town plan to break the Guinness World Record by building the most snowmen in a single day in order to be remembered forever. This is one of those DVD’s where you can’t look at the cover first, because it will give you the wrong impression. While this is a cute family movie, it’s got a darkness about it. The lead character Billy Kirkfield (Bobby Coleman) is in remission from cancer. He and his two friends Howard (Bobb’e J....

Actor Josh Flitter stopped by Hard Rock in New York Thursday night to support the Bullying...We're Kickin It Campaign. Flitter, 17, is a spokesperson for the organization that speaks out against bullying.

Josh is more than an up-and-coming actor. He's appeared in many recognized films in the past that include License to Wed, Nancy Drew, The Greatest Game Ever Played and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. His current film Snowmen hits theaters today.

Ology got the chance to chat with the actor and found out more than just his current role. Check out why Josh himself wanted to get involved in Kickin It and what he would be doing if he weren't acting.

How do you feel being here tonight as a spokesperson for the Bullying...We're Kickin It Campaign?

It's absolutely amazing. I've done so much work with animal cruelty organizations and kids with disease and cancer, but...

Actor Josh Flitter stopped by Hard Rock in New York Thursday night to support the Bullying...We're Kickin It Campaign. Flitter, 17, is a spokesperson for the organization that speaks out against bullying.

Josh is more than an up-and-coming actor. He's appeared in many recognized films in the past that include License to Wed, Nancy Drew, The Greatest Game Ever Played and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. His current film Snowmen hits theaters today.

Ology got the chance to chat with the actor and found out more than just his current role. Check out why Josh himself wanted to get involved in Kickin It and what he would be doing if he weren't acting.

How do you feel being here tonight as a spokesperson for the Bullying...We're Kickin It Campaign?

It's absolutely amazing. I've done so much work with animal cruelty organizations and kids with disease and cancer, but...

[1] There's a little bit of something for everyone in today's very full TV Bits, whether your preference is for lightweight comedies, serious dramas, humanoid robots, or good-looking serial killers. After the jump: HBO and the creators of Big Love team up for an unconventional family drama Fox buys a boy genius sitcom from the guy who plays Kurt's dad on Glee Marlon Wayans makes a return to television with a buddy cop project for ABC Bunim/Murray and GameSpot prep an online series about gaming NBC unveils a plan to bring Grimm to you early FX gives a fifth season to Kurt Sutter's Sons of Anarchy Marvel announces a comic book series for fans of Dexter Let's start with the projects that are currently in development. Big Love may have wrapped earlier this year, but co-creators Mark V. Olsen and Will Scheffer aren't through with HBO. The pair are...

Exclusive: Fox is teaming with Glee co-star Mike O’Malley for another school comedy. The network has bought Prodigy Bully, a half-hour comedy written by O’Malley and executive produced by John Wells. Based on the Prodigy Bully one-minute movies by Hank Perlman, the comedy centers on a young boy genius who uses his brains and brawn to get whatever he wants. John Wells Prods and Warner Bros TV are producing, with Wells, Paris Barclay and Jwp’s Andrew Stearn executive producing and O’Malley co-executive producing. Jwp and Wbtv first took a stab at developing a single-camera comedy based on the Prodigy Bully shorts during the 2005-2006 season. Titled Prodigy/Bully, the project went to pilot at NBC, with Perlman and Steve Elliott writing, Perlman directing, Wells, Barclay and Jon Feldman executive producing and Josh Flitter playing the lead, 9-year-old Henry Tammer. Fox has had success in the past...

Here’s a rather scary looking image! Did you ever think that Doc Brown and Henry Hill from Goodfella’s would act in the same movie? Neither did i, yet here we have Christopher Lloyd and Ray Liotta side by side in a new movie called Snowmen which is ready and waiting to be released this Christmas.

The movie is directed by Robert Kirbysonand also stars Bobby Coleman, Bobb’e J. Thompson, Christian Martyn and Josh Flitter.

I’ll let the synopsis do the talking but it looks like it’s released in the Us 21st October and was out in the UK in May. Completely passed me by as I’ve never heard of it!

Snowmen is a humorous and heartfelt coming-of-age story about three unlikely heroes and the winter that changed their lives forever. After a surprising discovery in the snow catapults three small-town boys into the spotlight,...

Clips and featurettes from Snowmen, starring Bobby Coleman, Josh Flitter, Ray Liotta and Christopher Lloyd. Robert Kirbyson directs and writes the family film from Arc Entertainment. Snowmen is a humorous and heartfelt coming-of-age story about three unlikely heroes and the winter that changed their lives forever. After a surprising discovery in the snow catapults three small-town boys into the spotlight, the best friends hatch a plan to be remembered forever by setting a Guinness World Records® title. Along the way, the trio battles schoolyard bullies, unites their community and discovers that - while fame may be fleeting - true friendship lasts forever...

Clips and featurettes from Snowmen, starring Bobby Coleman, Josh Flitter, Ray Liotta and Christopher Lloyd. Robert Kirbyson directs and writes the family film from Arc Entertainment. Snowmen is a humorous and heartfelt coming-of-age story about three unlikely heroes and the winter that changed their lives forever. After a surprising discovery in the snow catapults three small-town boys into the spotlight, the best friends hatch a plan to be remembered forever by setting a Guinness World Records® title. Along the way, the trio battles schoolyard bullies, unites their community and discovers that - while fame may be fleeting - true friendship lasts forever...

Every once in a while, a film will come out that pushes the bounds of human stupidity to such an extent that it drains every shred of hope out of you and makes you want nothing more than to give up and wait for the sweet embrace of death to overtake you.

I guess I should have known what I was getting into. The director's name should have been enough to tip me off; when a grown man insists on using a middle name like "Mickey," he's probably a little off as it is.

I'm also very aware of the natural proclivity that straight-to-dvd sequels possess to suck, and the fact that this is a sequel of a sequel with none of the recurring characters from the previous installments bodes very, very poorly. And it's not like Ace Venturas 1 & 2 were cinematic gold anyway. Still, I couldn't have prepared myself for...

Every once in a while, a film will come out that pushes the bounds of human stupidity to such an extent that it drains every shred of hope out of you and makes you want nothing more than to give up and wait for the sweet embrace of death to overtake you.

I guess I should have known what I was getting into. The director's name should have been enough to tip me off; when a grown man insists on using a middle name like "Mickey," he's probably a little off as it is.

I'm also very aware of the natural proclivity that straight-to-dvd sequels possess to suck, and the fact that this is a sequel of a sequel with none of the recurring characters from the previous installments bodes very, very poorly. And it's not like Ace Venturas 1 & 2 were cinematic gold anyway. Still, I couldn't have prepared myself for...

You heard me right, I've been keeping track of this mind-boggling release for a while now, and am amazed that it exists in general. Without taking any more stabs at it, I'll just ask that you view the embedded trailer below.

The only promising thing after seeing the trailer is that Josh Flitter is the star. But frankly, I don't know that even that can save it. Josh Flitter is famous for his stand-out roles in less than perfect movies. I personally liked him in License to Wed... the film is a little bit better than average, but nothing to rush out and see.

I loved the character Jim Carrey created for Ace Ventura... the hair, the physical comedy, the way he talked - it was perfect at the time. Like Austin Powers though, the joke wore thin over time. Even using Alrighty Then as a post title is debatebly lame.

Lets begin with this thought -- I thought that young Josh Flitter was pretty good in previous roles such as the little Holy-roller in License to Wed or the chubby sidekick in Nancy Drew -- but this is just plain terrible. All seven fans of the Ace Ventura franchise should ...

I now present you with a challenge – see if you can watch all 1 minute and 3 seconds of the trailer for the direct-to-disc flick Ace Ventura Jr. without looking away. It’s harder than you think. If the title hasn’t already given it away, the movie centers on the son of Ace, who has to clear his mother’s name after she is wrongly arrested for stealing a baby panda. The quick cash-in to the Jim Carrey comedies is set to arrive March 3, 2009 and will come with six behind the scenes featurettes, extended scenes, and a gag reel. The flick stars Josh Flitter, Emma Lockhart, Austin Rogers, Chris Adler, Robie Alan and Reed Alexander.

If you weren't exactly sure what to give thanks for on Thursday, it could now be one of two options: You could either be thankful that there's finally a trailer for the likes of Ace Ventura Jr., or you could be thankful that said spin-off is going the direct-to-video route (as well it should).

Starring as the bastard child of Jim Carrey's pet detective is Josh Flitter, appearing in his first lead role after years of being the tubby sidekick to Emma Roberts in Nancy Drew, Robin Williams in License to Wed and Shia Labeouf in The Greatest Game Ever Played. It seems that he's inherited his father's hairdo and catchphrases, but no discernable comedic ability whatsoever (maybe that'll kick in with puberty, but I'm sure not sticking around to find out).

Ace Ventura Jr. will begin keeping dusty DVD copies of Son of the Mask company when it hits shelves next March.

In anticipation of "City of Ember" theatrical release this coming Friday on October 10, Fox-Walden Media have presented moviegoers with the premiere of their latest adventure fantasy film. Held at AMC Loews 19th Street Theatre, New York City, on Tuesday, October 7, the special screening event was a star-studded extravaganza.

Rolling out the red carpet outside the theater, the evening event saw many of "Ember" cast ensemble, such as Harry Treadaway, Saorise Ronan, Bill Murray, Tim Robbins and Martin Landau. While Robbins who stars as Loris Harrow attended the premiere accompanied by his partner Susan Sarandon, Murray who portrays Ember's Mayor Cole, walked down the red carpet with yellow miner's helmet on his head and on his hand.

The stars were also joined by the flick's director Gil Kenan. Also attending the event were several other celebrity guests that include recording sisters/actresses Aly & Aj, "Horton Hears a Who!" voice actor Josh Flitter,...

12-year-old Nancy Drew star Josh Flitter is set to revive the Ace Ventura: Pet Detective franchise after taking over the role that helped turn Jim Carrey into a household name. Flitter has signed to star in the third Ace Ventura movie, according to movie news website MovieHole.net. The young actor will play the son of the original ace, who takes over the family business. Director David Mickey Evans admits he let his own kids pick the project for him - after presenting them with a handful of scripts he was offered after making family baseball movies The Sandlot and The Final Season. He told the website, "My kids run my career. After The Final Season got picked up for theatrical release, I had a bunch of offers and scripts on my desk. I asked my nine, 11, and 15 year olds what they wanted me to do. They said, 'Dad, you're doing Ace Ventura 3!' I don't know if the fact that the film shoots in Orlando and that's where Disney World is, had anything to with their marching orders, but I suspect it did."...

Comedies don't get much lamer than License to Wed. Working from a flawed premise with characters lacking credibility and plot turns more moronic than funny, the movie flatlines in about five minutes. Yes, it does star Robin Williams, but this is the cloying Williams who turns up in such movies as Patch Adams and Jack. And for Mandy Moore, the film reps a step backward into nondescript fluff after proving herself capable of sterner stuff in Dedication at January's Sundance Film Festival. This License should expire a week after opening.

Williams plays an overheated if not mentally unbalanced minister who puts engaged couples through a relationship torture test before he will agree to marry them. So the movie asks us to accept a man of the cloth illegally bugging a couple's bedroom with minimicrophones, having the bride drive down a street blindfolded and encouraging the groom to pick fights with his future in-laws. Another of his great ideas is twin robotic babies that scream and defecate to simulate what having children is like. (Which, of course, ignores all the joys of real parenthood.)

Moore and John Krasinski of NBC's The Office play the put-upon couple, but nothing in Kim Barker, Tim Rasmussen and Vince Di Meglio's belabored screenplay (from a story by Barker and Wayne Lloyd) explains why they put up with any of this nonsense. Moore is therefore forced to play her character as too dumb and insensitive to notice, and Krasinski is a guy who will go along with anything including allowing the reverend to break his nose.

The most obnoxious character -- though just barely -- belongs to child actor Josh Flitter, who plays the reverend's henchman, Choir Boy. He does all the breaking and entering, electronic spying and remote controls on the berserk Robo Babies. He is made to look positively evil and is, we are told, a "minister in training." God help the parishioners of that church.

Christine Taylor and DeRay Davis play the thankless roles of Moore's divorced sister and Krasinski's best friend, respectively, each charged with delivering nothing but bad advice. Meanwhile, Peter Strauss looks stiff and unhappy as Moore's aloof dad.

For the record, no less than a dozen people took some sort of producing credit on this film.

LICENSE TO WED

Warner Bros. Pictures

Warner Bros. Pictures in association with Village Roadshow Pictures presents a Robert Simonds/Phoenix Pictures production

Credits:

Director: Ken Kwapis

Screenwriters: Kim Barker, Tim Rasmussen, Vince Di Meglio

Story: Kim Barker, Wayne Lloyd

Producers: Mike Medavoy, Arnold W. Messer, Nick Osborne, Robert Simonds

Executive producers: Bradley J. Fischer, David Thwaites, Kim Zubick, Dana Goldberg, Bruce Berman

Director of photography: John Bailey

Production designer: Gae Buckley

Music: Christophe Beck

Co-producers: Christine Sacani, Louis Phillips, Trevor Engelson

Costume designer: Deena Appel

Editor: Kathryn Himoff

Cast:

Rev. Frank: Robin Williams

Sadie Jones: Mandy Moore

Ben Murphy: John Krasinski

Lindsey: Christine Taylor

Carlisle: Eric Christian Olsen

Choir Boy

Josh Flitter

Joel: DeRay Davis

Running time -- 90 minutes

MPAA rating: PG-13...

This review was written for the theatrical release of "Nancy Drew".River Heights meets Mulholland Drive, to lackluster effect, in "Nancy Drew". The beloved amateur sleuth's first big-screen appearance in nearly 70 years is not devoid of affection for the mystery books that have engaged generations of young girls, but the culture-clash procedural, which brings the small-town teen to big bad Hollywood, feels more perfunctory than inspired. If the feature sparks a run on the books, it will be the result of tween-targeted marketing centering on Nickelodeon star Emma Roberts; word-of-mouth among young moviegoers, their mothers and grandmothers isn't likely to solve this case at the boxoffice.

Conceived, written and edited by committee under the pseudonymous authorship of Carolyn Keene, the book series has undergone its fair share of revisions and facelifts since first publication in 1930. It's hardly sacred literature that shouldn't be messed with, yet the source material's particular resonance remains elusive in this 21st century update.

Director Andrew Fleming and co-scripter Tiffany Paulsen have set up a familiar new-girl-in-school scenario for Nancy, overshadowing the mystery that should be the story's engine. Their screenplay isn't quite parody, but it's larded with enough self-conscious deadpan nods to the genre to make it something less than sincere. They've put Nancy (a perennial 18-year-old for decades) back in high school at 16 -- all the better for setting her in contrived opposition to fashion-slave Los Angeles mean girls (Daniella Monet, Kelly Vitz), while best friends George and Bess are reduced to bit parts back in stateless River Heights. Vague business has brought her widowed attorney father (Tate Donovan) to Los Angeles, where Nancy gets busy suggesting improvements to the principal of Hollywood High and delving into a movieland mystery.

The unsolved case from the annals of Hollywood dates way back to the glamorous days of 1981, when actress Dehlia Draycott (Laura Elena Harring) died after a five-month disappearance. Having rented the decrepit mansion where Dehlia lived (nice work by production designer Tony Fanning), Nancy can avail herself of an attic full of memorabilia, not to mention film footage and a projector, all under the disquieting eye of "strange caretaker" Leshing (Marshall Bell). Smitten 12-year-old Corky (Josh Flitter) lends his help, as does Ned Nickerson (Max Thieriot), who arrives from back home to deliver Nancy's nifty blue convertible and -- in the film's only emotionally convincing performance -- to confront his feelings for his favorite sleuth.

With an iBook and a vintage roadster at her disposal, Nancy would seem to have the best of both worlds. But the movie suffers from a split personality that proves enervating. The idea of playing up Nancy's retro qualities goes only so far, and reimagining her as a square do-gooder feels forced -- and misses the point about the unfussy intelligence that has made the character a keeper for most of a century.

As the quick-thinking, fearless title character, Roberts ("Unfabulous") conveys the required poise and self-confidence but never overcomes a certain blankness. Helmer Fleming ("Dick") struggles to generate human chemistry within the tween-movie formula. Often the most expressive onscreen elements are the costumes by Jeffrey Kurland, who dressed Roberts' Aunt Julia in "Erin Brockovich" and "Ocean's Eleven," and who has a good deal of character-defining fun here.

The Hollywood-lore angle is more intriguing than the high-school scenario, and older viewers might enjoy the film references, if only because they're diversions from the listless action. Harring's presence pays homage to David Lynch's brilliant R-rated twist on Nancy Drew in "Mulholland Drive"; there are broad allusions to "Chinatown"; and when Nancy tracks down a crucial figure Rachael Leigh Cook) in the Draycott mystery, she visits an apartment building that will recall last year's "Hollywoodland". Adam Goldberg and an uncredited Bruce Willis provide all-too-fleeting film-within-the-film cameos, while Barry Bostwick delivers a tasty turn as a super-lawyer to the stars.

Late-in-the-proceedings tension does materialize, but under the helm of Fleming and DP Alexander Gruszynski, most of the action sequences unfold with numbing indifference, while Ralph Sall's original score is far more interesting than his soundtrack of perkily predictable pop songs.

NANCY DREW

Warner Bros. Pictures

Warner Bros. Pictures presents in association with Virtual Studios a Jerry Weintraub production

Credits:

Director: Andrew Fleming

Screenwriters: Andrew Fleming, Tiffany Paulsen

Story: Tiffany Paulsen

Based on characters created by: Carolyn Keene

Producer: Jerry Weintraub

Executive producers: Susan Ekins, Mark Vahradian, Benjamin Waisbren

Director of photography: Alexander Gruszynski

Production designer: Tony Fanning

Music: Ralph Sall

Co-producer: Cherylanne Martin

Costume designer: Jeffrey Kurland

Editor: Jeff Freeman

Cast:

Nancy Drew: Emma Roberts

Corky: Josh Flitter

Ned Nickerson: Max Thieriot

Jane Brighton: Rachael Leigh Cook

Carson Drew: Tate Donovan

Dashiel Biedermeyer: Barry Bostwick

Inga: Daniella Monet

Barbara Barbara: Caroline Aaron

Leshing: Marshall Bell

Dehlia Draycott: Laura Elena Harring

Trish: Kelly Vitz

Landlady: Pat Carroll

Running time -- 99 minutes

MPAA rating: PG...

River Heights meets Mulholland Drive, to lackluster effect, in "Nancy Drew". The beloved amateur sleuth's first big-screen appearance in nearly 70 years is not devoid of affection for the mystery books that have engaged generations of young girls, but the culture-clash procedural, which brings the small-town teen to big bad Hollywood, feels more perfunctory than inspired. If the feature sparks a run on the books, it will be the result of tween-targeted marketing centering on Nickelodeon star Emma Roberts; word-of-mouth among young moviegoers, their mothers and grandmothers isn't likely to solve this case at the boxoffice.

Conceived, written and edited by committee under the pseudonymous authorship of Carolyn Keene, the book series has undergone its fair share of revisions and facelifts since first publication in 1930. It's hardly sacred literature that shouldn't be messed with, yet the source material's particular resonance remains elusive in this 21st century update.

Director Andrew Fleming and co-scripter Tiffany Paulsen have set up a familiar new-girl-in-school scenario for Nancy, overshadowing the mystery that should be the story's engine. Their screenplay isn't quite parody, but it's larded with enough self-conscious deadpan nods to the genre to make it something less than sincere. They've put Nancy (a perennial 18-year-old for decades) back in high school at 16 -- all the better for setting her in contrived opposition to fashion-slave Los Angeles mean girls (Daniella Monet, Kelly Vitz), while best friends George and Bess are reduced to bit parts back in stateless River Heights. Vague business has brought her widowed attorney father (Tate Donovan) to Los Angeles, where Nancy gets busy suggesting improvements to the principal of Hollywood High and delving into a movieland mystery.

The unsolved case from the annals of Hollywood dates way back to the glamorous days of 1981, when actress Dehlia Draycott (Laura Elena Harring) died after a five-month disappearance. Having rented the decrepit mansion where Dehlia lived (nice work by production designer Tony Fanning), Nancy can avail herself of an attic full of memorabilia, not to mention film footage and a projector, all under the disquieting eye of "strange caretaker" Leshing (Marshall Bell). Smitten 12-year-old Corky (Josh Flitter) lends his help, as does Ned Nickerson (Max Thieriot), who arrives from back home to deliver Nancy's nifty blue convertible and -- in the film's only emotionally convincing performance -- to confront his feelings for his favorite sleuth.

With an iBook and a vintage roadster at her disposal, Nancy would seem to have the best of both worlds. But the movie suffers from a split personality that proves enervating. The idea of playing up Nancy's retro qualities goes only so far, and reimagining her as a square do-gooder feels forced -- and misses the point about the unfussy intelligence that has made the character a keeper for most of a century.

As the quick-thinking, fearless title character, Roberts ("Unfabulous") conveys the required poise and self-confidence but never overcomes a certain blankness. Helmer Fleming ("Dick") struggles to generate human chemistry within the tween-movie formula. Often the most expressive onscreen elements are the costumes by Jeffrey Kurland, who dressed Roberts' Aunt Julia in "Erin Brockovich" and "Ocean's Eleven," and who has a good deal of character-defining fun here.

The Hollywood-lore angle is more intriguing than the high-school scenario, and older viewers might enjoy the film references, if only because they're diversions from the listless action. Harring's presence pays homage to David Lynch's brilliant R-rated twist on Nancy Drew in "Mulholland Drive"; there are broad allusions to "Chinatown"; and when Nancy tracks down a crucial figure Rachael Leigh Cook) in the Draycott mystery, she visits an apartment building that will recall last year's "Hollywoodland". Adam Goldberg and an uncredited Bruce Willis provide all-too-fleeting film-within-the-film cameos, while Barry Bostwick delivers a tasty turn as a super-lawyer to the stars.

Late-in-the-proceedings tension does materialize, but under the helm of Fleming and DP Alexander Gruszynski, most of the action sequences unfold with numbing indifference, while Ralph Sall's original score is far more interesting than his soundtrack of perkily predictable pop songs.

NANCY DREW

Warner Bros. Pictures

Warner Bros. Pictures presents in association with Virtual Studios a Jerry Weintraub production

Credits:

Director: Andrew Fleming

Screenwriters: Andrew Fleming, Tiffany Paulsen

Story: Tiffany Paulsen

Based on characters created by: Carolyn Keene

Producer: Jerry Weintraub

Executive producers: Susan Ekins, Mark Vahradian, Benjamin Waisbren

Director of photography: Alexander Gruszynski

Production designer: Tony Fanning

Music: Ralph Sall

Co-producer: Cherylanne Martin

Costume designer: Jeffrey Kurland

Editor: Jeff Freeman

Cast:

Nancy Drew: Emma Roberts

Corky: Josh Flitter

Ned Nickerson: Max Thieriot

Jane Brighton: Rachael Leigh Cook

Carson Drew: Tate Donovan

Dashiel Biedermeyer: Barry Bostwick

Inga: Daniella Monet

Barbara Barbara: Caroline Aaron

Leshing: Marshall Bell

Dehlia Draycott: Laura Elena Harring

Trish: Kelly Vitz

Landlady: Pat Carroll

Running time -- 99 minutes

MPAA rating: PG...

River Heights meets Mulholland Drive, to lackluster effect, in Nancy Drew. The beloved amateur sleuth's first big-screen appearance in nearly 70 years is not devoid of affection for the mystery books that have engaged generations of young girls, but the culture-clash procedural, which brings the small-town teen to big bad Hollywood, feels more perfunctory than inspired. If the feature sparks a run on the books, it will be the result of tween-targeted marketing centering on Nickelodeon star Emma Roberts; word-of-mouth among young moviegoers, their mothers and grandmothers isn't likely to solve this case at the boxoffice.

Conceived, written and edited by committee under the pseudonymous authorship of Carolyn Keene, the book series has undergone its fair share of revisions and facelifts since first publication in 1930. It's hardly sacred literature that shouldn't be messed with, yet the source material's particular resonance remains elusive in this 21st century update.

Director Andrew Fleming and co-scripter Tiffany Paulsen have set up a familiar new-girl-in-school scenario for Nancy, overshadowing the mystery that should be the story's engine. Their screenplay isn't quite parody, but it's larded with enough self-conscious deadpan nods to the genre to make it something less than sincere. They've put Nancy (a perennial 18-year-old for decades) back in high school at 16 -- all the better for setting her in contrived opposition to fashion-slave Los Angeles mean girls (Daniella Monet, Kelly Vitz), while best friends George and Bess are reduced to bit parts back in stateless River Heights. Vague business has brought her widowed attorney father (Tate Donovan) to Los Angeles, where Nancy gets busy suggesting improvements to the principal of Hollywood High and delving into a movieland mystery.

The unsolved case from the annals of Hollywood dates way back to the glamorous days of 1981, when actress Dehlia Draycott (Laura Elena Harring) died after a five-month disappearance. Having rented the decrepit mansion where Dehlia lived (nice work by production designer Tony Fanning), Nancy can avail herself of an attic full of memorabilia, not to mention film footage and a projector, all under the disquieting eye of "strange caretaker" Leshing (Marshall Bell). Smitten 12-year-old Corky (Josh Flitter) lends his help, as does Ned Nickerson (Max Thieriot), who arrives from back home to deliver Nancy's nifty blue convertible and -- in the film's only emotionally convincing performance -- to confront his feelings for his favorite sleuth.

With an iBook and a vintage roadster at her disposal, Nancy would seem to have the best of both worlds. But the movie suffers from a split personality that proves enervating. The idea of playing up Nancy's retro qualities goes only so far, and reimagining her as a square do-gooder feels forced -- and misses the point about the unfussy intelligence that has made the character a keeper for most of a century.

As the quick-thinking, fearless title character, Roberts (Unfabulous) conveys the required poise and self-confidence but never overcomes a certain blankness. Helmer Fleming (Dick) struggles to generate human chemistry within the tween-movie formula. Often the most expressive onscreen elements are the costumes by Jeffrey Kurland, who dressed Roberts' Aunt Julia in Erin Brockovich and "Ocean's Eleven," and who has a good deal of character-defining fun here.

The Hollywood-lore angle is more intriguing than the high-school scenario, and older viewers might enjoy the film references, if only because they're diversions from the listless action. Harring's presence pays homage to David Lynch's brilliant R-rated twist on Nancy Drew in Mulholland Drive; there are broad allusions to Chinatown; and when Nancy tracks down a crucial figure Rachael Leigh Cook) in the Draycott mystery, she visits an apartment building that will recall last year's Hollywoodland. Adam Goldberg and an uncredited Bruce Willis provide all-too-fleeting film-within-the-film cameos, while Barry Bostwick delivers a tasty turn as a super-lawyer to the stars.

Late-in-the-proceedings tension does materialize, but under the helm of Fleming and DP Alexander Gruszynski, most of the action sequences unfold with numbing indifference, while Ralph Sall's original score is far more interesting than his soundtrack of perkily predictable pop songs.

NANCY DREW

Warner Bros. Pictures

Warner Bros. Pictures presents in association with Virtual Studios a Jerry Weintraub production

Credits:

Director: Andrew Fleming

Screenwriters: Andrew Fleming, Tiffany Paulsen

Story: Tiffany Paulsen

Based on characters created by: Carolyn Keene

Producer: Jerry Weintraub

Executive producers: Susan Ekins, Mark Vahradian, Benjamin Waisbren

Director of photography: Alexander Gruszynski

Production designer: Tony Fanning

Music: Ralph Sall

Co-producer: Cherylanne Martin

Costume designer: Jeffrey Kurland

Editor: Jeff Freeman

Cast:

Nancy Drew: Emma Roberts

Corky: Josh Flitter

Ned Nickerson: Max Thieriot

Jane Brighton: Rachael Leigh Cook

Carson Drew: Tate Donovan

Dashiel Biedermeyer: Barry Bostwick

Inga: Daniella Monet

Barbara Barbara: Caroline Aaron

Leshing: Marshall Bell

Dehlia Draycott: Laura Elena Harring

Trish: Kelly Vitz

Landlady: Pat Carroll

Running time -- 99 minutes

MPAA rating: PG...

If state-of-the-art cross-gender fat suits and drunken Chihuahuas were the stuff of comic genius, "Big Momma's House 2" still wouldn't be very funny. But as few and far between as the laughs are, this follow-up to the 2000 comedy -- painted in the same broad, no-thinking-required strokes -- is likely to score the same solid business.

Greg Cannom's makeup effects again take center stage, and Martin Lawrence is game as the FBI agent who goes undercover as a very large grandmother. It's the Chihuahua, though, that delivers one of the more committed performances, no doubt because he hadn't read the script.

After saving Nia Long from the formidable Terrence Howard in the first film, agent Malcolm Turner here merely has to save America from techno-terrorists. He has married Sherri (Long) and traded in his field agent responsibilities for a PR desk job, making local school appearances as a "safety eagle," much to the embarrassment of his stepson (Jascha Washington). But after learning that his first partner has been killed while working on a computer-worm case, Malcolm dons the Big Momma costume and goes undercover without telling the agency or his 8 1/2-months-pregnant wife.

To get to the suspected designer of that worm, which would give its dastardly users access to the U.S. government's intelligence network (assuming the old-school Luddites have created one by now), Big Momma gets herself hired as nanny to the family of an Orange County software exec (Mark Moses). Don Rhymer's screenplay takes some deserved, if obvious, jabs at the new-millennial brand of parenting that churns out overachieving competitors rather than children. But while Emily Procter fits the bill as an activity-obsessed mom, painfully unfunny slapstick takes precedence over would-be satire.

Under the helm of John Whitesell, a veteran of episodic television whose big-screen credits include "Calendar Girl" and "Malibu's Most Wanted", the story unspools with a decided lack of comic energy, wending its way toward the tepid better-parenting message that has plagued more than a few comedies in recent years. Amid some of the lamest FBI maneuvers ever seen, the warmed-over "Mrs. Doubtfire" premise has our hero discovering his maternal instinct while saving the Western world, reconnecting poor little rich kids with their distracted parents, putting the booty in the moves of a clueless white girls' cheerleading squad and helping the grieving family dog find his bliss.

Lawrence has the devilish schoolboy look that makes you wish he'd cut loose more, but the film doesn't embrace the downright ludicrousness of the scenario until the climactic collision with the villains. And then it promptly goes all mushy. Josh Flitter, who made an impression as the mouthy pint-size caddie in "The Greatest Game Ever Played" and who appears to be channeling Jack E. Leonard, injects some oomph as a hacker extraordinaire who helps the hapless FBI agents. Design and other production contributions serve the story in straight-ahead fashion.

BIG MOMMA'S HOUSE 2

20th Century Fox

20th Century Fox and Regency Enterprises present

a Deep River/Firm Films/Runteldat Entertainment/New Regency production

Credits:

Director: John Whitesell

Screenwriter: Don Rhymer

Based on the characters created by: Darryl Quarles

Producers: David T. Friendly, Michael Green

Executive producers: Martin Lawrence, Jeffrey Kwatinetz, Arnon Milchan

Director of photography: Mark Irwin

Production designer: Craig Stearns

Music: George S. Clinton

Co-producer: Jeremiah Samuels

Special makeup effects: Greg Cannom

Costume designer: Debrae Little

Editor: Priscilla Nedd Friendly

Cast:

Malcolm/Big Momma: Martin Lawrence

Sherri: Nia Long

Leah Fuller: Emily Procter

Kevin: Zachary Levi

Tom Fuller: Mark Moses

Molly: Kat Dennings

Carrie: Chloe Grace Moretz

Liliana Morales: Marisol Nichols

Stewart: Josh Flitter

Crawford: Dan Lauria

Trent: Jascha Washington

Andrew: Preston Shores, Trevor Shores

Constance: Sarah Joy Brown

MPAA rating PG-13

Running time -- 99 minutes...

The true story of golf's 1913 U.S. Open is full of the stuff inspiring movies are made of: underdog triumph, the breaking of class barriers, a down-to-the-wire showdown. In his first nonfiction book, "The Greatest Game Ever Played", writer-producer Mark Frost exhumed the event that once riveted the nation -- an unlikely match between a 20-year-old amateur and the game's reigning champ. He adapts the tale to the big screen with economy but not without conceding to certain rules of the genre; there's a familiarity to the saga as it hits predictable plot points. Still, actor-turned-helmer Bill Paxton has fashioned solid family entertainment in this well-cast feature, which in turn should provide solid boxoffice returns.

If the film makes its points early and sets out on an obvious trajectory, Paxton's love of the game is evident throughout. He and cinematographer Shane Hurlbut inject pizzazz into the proceedings with ball's-p.o.v. shots and telescoping effects. Although the story can't escape a certain sentimentality, Paxton leavens the inspirational element with admirable dramatic restraint, particularly in the two central performances.

Shia LaBeouf is full of quiet determination as Brookline, Mass., boy Francis Ouimet. He's been obsessed with golf since he began caddying at a tender age at the country club across the street from his working-class parents' home. From his Irish mother (Marnie McPhail) he receives undying encouragement, while his wary French father (Elias Koteas, bringing an affecting complexity to what could have been a by-the-numbers role) sees only heartbreak ahead for a poor boy dabbling in a gentleman's game.

But with the support and coaching of golfer Hastings (Justin Ashforth) and pro-shop expert Campbell (Luke Askew), Francis makes his way onto the green as a player, nabbing amateur titles until he finds himself squaring off in the U.S. Open against world-class players. Further bending the game's etiquette, circumstances leave Francis with a 10-year-old caddie, Eddie (Josh Flitter), who's not much taller than the bag. Eddie feeds Francis wisdom and rhyming pep talks with the delivery of a pintsize Borscht Belt comedian.

If the heart of the story is Francis' pairing with the spunky Eddie, its soul is the unspoken connection between him and his chief competition, Harry Vardon (Stephen Dillane), the British superstar of the game. Despite his professional status, Vardon feels he is the working-class outsider among the moneyed elite. The specter of a crucial moment from his Isle of Jersey childhood, hauntingly depicted in the film's prologue, arises to unnerve him during crucial moments at the tee. With his doleful gaze and self-contained intensity, the estimable Dillane movingly conveys Harry's profound pleasure in Francis' performance.

The fine supporting cast includes Stephen Marcus as Harry's no-nonsense colleague; Peter Firth as the hissable Lord Northcliffe, sponsor of Harry and Ted's stateside expedition; George Asprey as Britain's top amateur, a snob of the first order with a mean talent for smoke rings; Michael Weaver as the defending U.S. champion, a man of frothing nationalistic fervor; Robin Wilcock as the Brit journalist who loves the story; and Peyton List as the Smith girl who takes an interest in Francis, in a subplot that feels tacked-on.

Turn-of-the-century period detail is strong, the Quebec locations striking. A lovely conceit strips away the crowds and noise and leaves Vardon alone on a pristine landscape, while a sequence of rain-soaked golfing benefits from Elliot Graham's dynamic editing. Brian Tyler contributes a rousing, if insistent, score, and opera star Dawn Upshaw appears onscreen to trill a composition by Joe Jackson.

THE GREATEST GAME EVER PLAYED

Buena Vista Pictures/Walt Disney Pictures

A Morra Brezner Steinberg Tenenbaum production

Credits:

Director: Bill Paxton

Screenwriter: Mark Frost

Producers: Larry Brezner, Mark Frost, David Blocker

Executive producer: David Steinberg

Director of photography: Shane Hurlbut

Production designer: Francois Seguin

Music: Brian Tyler

Costume designer: Renee April

Editor: Elliot Graham

Cast:

Francis Ouimet: Shia LaBeouf

Harry Vardon: Stephen Dillane

Lord Northcliffe: Peter Firth

Arthur Ouimet: Elias Koteas

Ted Ray: Stephen Marcus

Eddie Lowery: Josh Flitter

Ted Hastings: Justin Ashforth

Stedman Comstock: Len Cariou

Sarah Wallis: Peyton List

Alec Campbell: Luke Askew

Bernard Darwin: Robin Wilcock

John McDermott: Michael Weaver

Mary Ouimet: Marnie McPhail

Wilfred Reid: George Asprey

Soprano: Dawn Upshaw

Running time -- 120 minutes

MPAA rating: PG...