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Get a Clue
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| Get a Clue | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover | |
| Genre | Comedy Mystery Teen |
| Written by | Alana Burgi Sanko |
| Directed by | Maggie Greenwald |
| Starring | Lindsay Lohan Brenda Song Bug Hall Ian Gomez |
| Music by | David Mansfield |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Deborah Ellis Leoni |
| Producer | Josette Perrotta |
| Cinematography | Rhett Morita |
| Editor | Keith Reamer |
| Running time | 83 minutes |
| Production company | Flagstaff Pictures |
| Budget | $1 million |
| Original release | |
| Network | Disney Channel |
| Release | June 28, 2002 |
Get a Clue is a 2002 American mystery comedy film released as a Disney Channel Original Movie. It stars Lindsay Lohan as Lexy Gold, a teenage high school student who investigates a mystery after one of her teachers goes missing. The film premiered on Disney Channel on June 28, 2002. It was directed by Maggie Greenwald and was written by Alana Sanko.
Plot
[edit]Lexy Gold lives amongst the wealthy and elite of Manhattan, New York. She serves as an advice columnist in her school newspaper but competes for status with middle-class Jack Downey, the editor. When an article and photograph Lexy has taken of her teacher, Mr. Orlando Walker, is published in the city's daily paper, he goes missing and his car is found in the East River. With help from Lexy's best friend Jen Hervey and one of her schoolmates Gabe (Ali Mukaddam), Lexy and Jack set out to solve the mystery behind the disappearance.
Their teacher, Miss Gertrude Dawson, becomes involved as she and Mr. Walker were romantically involved. Jack receives a message from Mr. Walker about a scholarship. Lexy and Jack search his old apartment, where they run into Detective Charles Meany, who is searching for Mr. Walker. Jen and Gabe watch Miss Dawson at Gabe's house with a video camera to keep an eye on her. Lexy and Jack later meet Mr. Walker's mother, Mrs. Petrossian, at her house. They discover that Mr. Walker changed his identity after being accused of stealing $10,000,000. Mr. Walker later receives a letter from the real person who stole the money, framing Mr. Walker.
The group and Mr. Walker meet at a hotel to pretend to receive the money. Miss Dawson shows up at the hotel and is taken hostage by the real thief. Lexy and Jack search the halls for the man, who is revealed to be Detective Meany, whose real name is Falco Grandville, Mr. Walker's boss when he worked at a bank in Arizona, and the man who had framed Mr. Walker for the money theft. The team catches up with him and he is later arrested. It is later revealed that Mr. Walker's mother found a brooch at Falco's office by chance and decided to keep it; Falco has purchased the expensive canary diamond brooch to hide the stolen $10 million, and blamed Walker for its loss. After Mr. Walker is pronounced a free man at last, he later asks Miss Dawson to marry him. At the end, it shows the wedding with Jack, Lexy, Jen, and Gabe. Jack and Lexy share a moment between themselves before the four teens walk down the street.
Cast
[edit]- Lindsay Lohan as Alexandra "Lexy" Gold, a teenage amateur journalist.[1]
- Bug Hall as Jack Downey, editor of the school newspaper.
- Ian Gomez as Nicholas Petrossian / Mr. Orlando Walker, one of Lexy's teachers.
- Brenda Song as Jennifer "Jen" Hervey, Lexy's fashion-conscious best friend.
- Ali Mukaddam as Gabe, an amateur photographer.
- Dan Lett as Frank Gold, Lexy's father, a journalist with the New York Times.
- Amanda Plummer as Miss Gertrude Dawson, a teacher who is in love with Mr. Walker.
- Charles Shaughnessy as Detective Charles Meany / Falco Grandville, the main antagonist of the film.
- Kim Roberts as Mrs. Stern
- Eric Fink as Mr. Goldblum
- Jennifer Pisana as Taylor Gold, Lexy's tech-savvy little sister.
- Sylvia Lennick as Mrs. Petrossian
- Cheryl MacInnis as Mrs. Somerville
- Timm Zemanek as Mr. Greenblatt
- Gerry Quigley as Detective Potter
- Craig Lamar Traylor (unconfirmed)
- Keenan MacWilliam as Karen
- Sugith Varughese as Homeless Man/Gary Eicar
Production
[edit]Production began in May 2001. Get a Clue was written by Alana Sanko; the script was still unfinished by the time filming had begun. Maggie Greenwald was confirmed to direct and Lindsay Lohan was cast as Lexy Gold, ending her three-movie deal with The Walt Disney Company[2]. The film was primarily filmed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with some of the exterior scenes filmed on location in Manhattan, New York. Millington Prep, the school Lexy and her friends attend, was filmed at Bishop Strachan School in Toronto.
The film was originally to be released in January 2002 as the Disney Channel Movie of the Month.[3] A well-concealed reshoot took place in late 2001 to film a different ending concluding that the villain in the film was Meany. In the original ending, the villain turned out to be Mrs. Stern, a teacher at Lexy's school who had known Mr. Walker while he was living in Arizona. This ending was shown on the DVD (though the viewer has the option to watch either ending when the movie reaches 61 minutes, with the Mrs. Stern ending shown in a different aspect ratio than the rest of the movie).[1] The film was heavily promoted by and frequently re-aired on Disney Channel during its initial summer. A song by the Canadian band Prozzäk, "Get a Clue", appeared in the film, and the music video was regularly shown on the channel at the time of its release. The name of the band was changed to "Simon and Milo", the characters depicted in the music video so their band name would not be associated with drugs.
Notes
[edit]- ^ a b Credits list role as "Lexy Gold". See also Get a Clue DVD Review (May 19, 2005). UltimateDisney.com. Accessed 2009-02-15.
- ^ "Lindsay Lohan (Actor)". Variety. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
- ^ LLRocks.com (May 15, 2001). Archive.org. Accessed 2009-12-11.
External links
[edit]
Wikiquote has quotations related to Get a Clue.
- Get a Clue at IMDb
Get a Clue
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Development and Production
Development
The screenplay for Get a Clue was originally written by Alana Sanko around 2000. Sanko, a screenwriter with credits in television and film, drew inspiration from Woody Allen's Manhattan Murder Mystery, envisioning a story about a kid solving a teacher's disappearance in a lighthearted, comedic style. She pitched the concept to a producer contact, who quickly championed it to Disney Channel executives, leading to its greenlighting as a Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) in their 2002 programming slate aimed at highlighting emerging young actors.[9] Disney selected Maggie Greenwald to direct, marking her debut project with the studio after a background in independent cinema, including features like The Ballad of Little Jo (1993) and television work for networks such as Lifetime. Greenwald's involvement brought a polished yet accessible approach to the teen-oriented mystery, aligning with Disney's goal of blending suspense with family-friendly humor. The production operated on a modest budget consistent with early 2000s DCOMs designed for television broadcast rather than theatrical release.[10][11] Pre-production moved swiftly following the script's approval, with the draft being refined amid notes from Disney executives. Casting calls capitalized on the rising popularity of actress Lindsay Lohan, whose star had ascended after her role in The Parent Trap (1998), to lead as the protagonist Lexy Gold. This phase emphasized assembling a young ensemble to appeal to Disney's tween audience, setting the stage for principal photography without major delays.[9]Filming
Principal photography for Get a Clue took place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, doubling as New York City throughout the production.[12] High school scenes were primarily shot at the Bishop Strachan School, a real private institution that provided the backdrop for Millington Prep.[13] Urban exteriors, evoking Manhattan's bustling streets, were captured in downtown Toronto to maintain the film's New York setting.[8] The production was handled by Flagstaff Pictures, with cinematographer Rhett Morita employing a vibrant, accessible visual style suited to its teen audience and mystery-comedy tone.[14]Cast and Characters
Main Cast
The main cast of Get a Clue features Lindsay Lohan in the lead role of Alexandra "Lexy" Gold, a spoiled high school student who transforms into an amateur detective, marking Lohan's first starring role in a Disney Channel Original Movie following her breakthrough in The Parent Trap (1998).[14] Lohan, who was 15 years old during filming in 2001, portrayed the fashionable New York teen with a focus on her character's investigative drive.[1] Bug Hall plays Jack Downey, Lexy's tech-savvy friend and editor of the school newspaper, who provides crucial technical support in solving the mystery.[14] Brenda Song plays Jennifer "Jen" Hervey, Lexy's best friend and loyal sidekick, in one of Song's early prominent roles that highlighted her emerging presence in teen-oriented projects.[14][15] Dan Lett portrays Frank Gold, Lexy's father and a journalist for The New York Times, delivering a concise performance that anchors the family dynamic central to the story.[14][16]Supporting Roles
Amy Ryan portrays Maddy, Lexy's mother, whose interactions introduce family dynamic tension that underscores Lexy's determination to pursue the mystery despite parental concerns.[14] Al Mukadam plays Gabe, Lexy's classmate and love interest, who contributes to the romantic subplot and offers emotional support during the investigation into the teacher's disappearance.[14] Ian Gomez appears as Mr. Orlando Walker, the missing English teacher at the center of the central mystery.[14] Amanda Plummer portrays Miss Gertrude Dawson, a teacher who is romantically interested in Mr. Walker.[14] Charles Shaughnessy plays Detective Charles Meany / Falco Grandville, a police detective and the antagonist involved in the corporate embezzlement plot.[14] The production emphasized cost efficiency by primarily casting Canadian actors.[17]Plot
Lexy Gold is a 13-year-old high school student from Manhattan's upper class who writes a gossip column for her private school's newspaper. She competes with Jack Downey, the paper's editor from a working-class background, for scoops. Lexy photographs her English teacher, Mr. Orlando Walker, with another woman, and the image is published in a major New York newspaper. The next day, Mr. Walker disappears, and his car is found in the East River.[5] Determined to investigate, Lexy enlists Jack, her stylish best friend Jennifer "Jen" Hervey, and classmate Gabe. They learn Mr. Walker was romantically involved with another teacher, Miss Gertrude Dawson. The group uncovers that Mr. Walker had changed his identity after being falsely accused of embezzling $10 million from a bank. His superior at the time, who framed him, is now pursuing him.[5] Posing as applicants, Lexy and her friends infiltrate Walker Industries, the family business tied to Mr. Walker's past. They discover evidence of the embezzlement plot orchestrated by Mr. Walker's brother and an inside accomplice. With Mr. Walker's mother, Mrs. Petrossian, the teens confront the culprits, leading to the real thief's arrest and Mr. Walker's exoneration. In the end, Mr. Walker proposes to Miss Dawson, and the group attends their wedding.[5]Release
Broadcast and Distribution
Get a Clue premiered on Disney Channel in the United States on June 28, 2002, airing as a Friday night original movie.[1] The initial broadcast garnered approximately 3.2 million viewers, based on Nielsen ratings data.[18] Internationally, the film was distributed via Disney Channel networks, reaching dozens of countries starting in late 2002, and was dubbed in multiple languages to suit local markets.[7] In line with the direct-to-television approach typical of Disney Channel Original Movies, Get a Clue did not receive a theatrical release.[2] Reruns aired frequently on Disney Channel through 2005, with the movie later featured on Freeform during throwback blocks of Disney content.[19]Home Media
The film was released on DVD in the United States by Walt Disney Home Entertainment on May 31, 2005, following its premiere on Disney Channel on June 28, 2002.[20] The single-disc release presents the movie in full screen (1.33:1 aspect ratio) with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio and includes a bonus alternate ending as its primary special feature.[21] No commercial VHS release was produced, aligning with Disney's shift away from the format for many Disney Channel Original Movies by the mid-2000s.[22] "Get a Clue" became available for streaming on Disney+ at the platform's launch on November 12, 2019, and continues to be offered there as of 2025.[23] It is also accessible for digital purchase and rental on platforms including Apple iTunes and Amazon Prime Video.[24] International DVD editions include a Region 2 version released in the United Kingdom on April 3, 2006, featuring widescreen presentation, English audio, and subtitles in languages such as Dutch and English.[25] Region 1 editions were distributed in North America with similar subtitle options. No 4K UHD or high-definition upgrades have been issued.Reception
Critical Response
Get a Clue received mixed reviews from critics upon its release as a Disney Channel Original Movie, with aggregate scores reflecting its modest reception among professional reviewers. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a 40% approval rating based on five critic reviews, indicating a generally unfavorable response. Similarly, on IMDb, it has an average user rating of 5.1 out of 10 from over 7,800 ratings as of 2025.[4][1] Critics praised Lindsay Lohan's charismatic performance as the lead, Lexy Gold, highlighting her energetic presence and the film's light-hearted mystery elements tailored for teen audiences. Common Sense Media commended the "talented and likable cast, including Lindsay Lohan just before she lost her child-like charm," noting how the movie "zips along with snappy dialogue and a plot that never lets up," enhanced by an upbeat soundtrack and funky costumes. Retrospective analyses, such as from The Ringer, emphasized Lohan's "iconic fits" and the film's stylish New York City setting, which added energetic teen appeal through inter-school romance and high jinks.[8][26] However, the film faced criticism for its formulaic plot and underdeveloped supporting characters, often described as predictable fare typical of Disney Channel productions. The Los Angeles Times pointed out that while Get a Clue "displays style to spare bursting out of the starting gate," it ultimately "stumbles at the finish line, tripped up by the wild tangle of awkwardly knotted loose ends." Reviewers from 7M Pictures labeled it "your run-of-the-mill Disney Channel movie shot on the cheap," aimed at propelling young stars without deeper substance, while Reel Film dismissed it as a "flat-out boring waste of time." IGN echoed this, scoring it 2 out of 10 and critiquing its overly quirky tone and redundancy in the mystery narrative.[27][28][29][30] Audience reception was stronger among tweens, who appreciated the empowerment themes of a young girl taking charge to solve a mystery, fostering themes of independence and cleverness. The film's Rotten Tomatoes audience score stands at 42%, with viewers often citing its fun, escapist vibe for sleepovers and young girls. In retrospective views, it is frequently highlighted as an early showcase for Lohan's rising star power in Disney projects, appealing nostalgically to those who grew up with her roles.[4][29] The film received no major awards, though Lohan's performance contributed to her early career recognition in youth-oriented media.Viewership and Legacy
Get a Clue premiered on Disney Channel on June 28, 2002, drawing a solid audience of 3.2 million viewers as part of the network's burgeoning lineup of original movies during the early 2000s, a period when DCOMs consistently attracted millions of young viewers.[18] Reruns in 2003 and later years reflected sustained interest amid the franchise's growing popularity. Upon joining Disney+ in 2019, the film contributed to the platform's nostalgia-driven streaming surge, with renewed accessibility amplifying its reach to new and returning audiences.[31] The movie played a key role in the DCOM trend of empowering girl-led narratives, particularly in the mystery genre, where its protagonist's investigative journey highlighted themes of resourcefulness and friendship among young female characters. This approach influenced subsequent Disney productions emphasizing similar empowering stories for teen girls, aligning with the channel's 2002 slate of "girl power" films like Cadet Kelly and Gotta Kick It Up!.[32][33] For Lindsay Lohan, Get a Clue marked a significant early career milestone as her second lead in a DCOM following Life-Size (2000), showcasing her comedic timing and star potential just before her theatrical breakout in Freaky Friday (2003). The role helped facilitate her transition from television specials to major feature films, solidifying her as a prominent figure in Disney's teen programming.[34][35] In recent years, the film has enjoyed a modern legacy through nostalgic fan engagement, including recreations of its iconic early-2000s fashion and scenes on platforms like TikTok, underscoring its status as an underrated gem in Lohan's Disney catalog. Retrospectives often highlight it as a charming, overlooked entry in her pre-Mean Girls phase.[36][37] A notable trivia element is its theme song, "Get a Clue" by the Canadian duo Prozzäk (also known as Simon and Milo), which captured the era's pop sensibilities and appeared on the film's soundtrack as well as in Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure video game.[38]References
- https://homevideo.wikitide.org/wiki/Comprehensive_catalog_of_Walt_Disney_Studios_Home_Entertainment_releases_%281_to_40000%29