GET A CLUE!

REVIEWED BY CARISSA HORTON

Our rating: 4 out of 5

Because of: thematic elements

Rated:

The move from their comfortable house was bad enough, but for Tabitha Ruth (T.R./Turtle) Wexler the real horror comes later. Her family settles into an ancient apartment building called Sunset Towers right across the street from a dilapidated mansion. Her new neighbors are some of the strangest people one could hope to come across. Turtle could not be more miserable. Her father is barely around anymore, working almost 24/7 at his job. Her sister Angela is going to marry a man who couldn't be charming if he tried. Her mother won't give her any answers, and for the final straw no other kids live in the building except for a wheelchair bound teen named Chris.

Halloween arrives and that brings some semblance of excitement into Turtle's life. Her desire is not for candy, but runs more toward money. She has a bet on with the doorman Sandy McSouthers, the handyman Otis Amber, and Doug Hoo, the only son to the owner of the resident Chinese restaurant. For every minute that she stays inside the run-down mansion next door, each of the men will pay her $1.00. Now Turtle is not easily frightened or discouraged from doing the impossible, so this task seems to be a piece of cake. Until, she uncovers the body of the owner, wealthy Sam Westing, dead for several hours from an apparent heart attack. Perhaps it was a bit more of a thrill then she expected, but something worthwhile comes from the saga.

Mr. Westing left a will, and in it he names each of the residents of Sunset Towers as his heirs, including Turtle and her family. However, there is a trick to the matter. Only one will be rewarded, and that one will be decided by all playing the Westing game. Clues are handed out, partners are assigned, and Turtle has already decided that she must solve this puzzle. Anything new and challenging will alter her somewhat drab existence. So with her assigned partner Chris, Turtle sets out to uncover the solution for the Westing game. Little does she know that there is more to this supposed game then meets the eye, and perhaps she'll learn something about herself and her family along the way.

There really isn't much negative about Get a Clue! Some light verbal abuse is given to Turtle by her sister Angela's fiancé. At times it may seem that violence might occur, but it's always played for laughs and disproved later. The man behaves as if he were a complete jerk, and is really the only unlikeable character throughout the film. Turtle herself has a tendency to be somewhat vicious and conniving, even insulting at times. On the plus side though, she does learn a lesson about valuing what you have in life, especially those you love. Turtle's mother is somewhat involved in Yoga relaxation techniques, which I really didn't appreciate, but the few scenes are very brief.  Very mild flirting occurs infrequently, and to most it would not even be noticeable. Unfortunately, Turtle's Halloween costume was that of a witch, which I also do not condone. One of her worst tendencies is to kick shins. Several people are attacked by that child's boot.

Mostly, Get a Clue! explores the relationships and bonds between these people, giving insights into their characters. Turtle alters the most, maturing from a childish individual into a wiser youth. By the end, she's rather personable. Her friendship with Chris, though unwanted at first, helps express to the audience that Turtle really does possess a sweetness to her character which could be easily overlooked. She only wants to do what is best for others at the conclusion, with hardly a thought for herself. At times the storyline can be a bit confusing, but overall it's a rather cute mystery, and the end may surprise you. Apparently there is a book which this film is based on, and from what information I've gathered, the two are nothing alike. Should you be a fan of the book, it's highly likely you will not appreciate the film due to the many changes. For my part I enjoy Get a Clue!, as do my family. It's a relaxing, fun-filled movie crammed with just enough Halloween spooks to give you a delightful chill, but not enough to cause discomfort.