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Get a Clue

Get a Clue is a produced as a Disney Channel Original Movie, starring . Directed by Maggie Greenwald and written by Alana Sanko, the film follows Lexy Gold (Lohan), a 13-year-old fashion-obsessed high school student from Manhattan's elite circles who runs the gossip column for her private school's newspaper. When Lexy snaps a photo of her , Mr. , with an unidentified woman and it gets published in a major newspaper, Mr. suddenly vanishes, with his car discovered in the . Determined to uncover the truth, Lexy teams up with her friends—tech-savvy Jack Downey () and stylish ()—to infiltrate Walker Industries, the teacher's family business, where they expose a plot involving and corporate intrigue orchestrated by Mr. 's brother. The film premiered on on June 28, 2002, running for 83 minutes with a TV-G rating, and features supporting performances by as Mr. Walker, , and . It blends elements of teen detective stories with lighthearted humor, though critics noted its formulaic narrative despite Lohan's charismatic performance.

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. Disney selected Maggie Greenwald to direct, marking her debut project with the studio after a background in independent cinema, including features like (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 '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. 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 Lexy Gold. This phase emphasized assembling a young ensemble to appeal to Disney's tween audience, setting the stage for without major delays.

Filming

Principal photography for Get a Clue took place in , , , doubling as throughout the production. High school scenes were primarily shot at the , a real private institution that provided the backdrop for Millington Prep. Urban exteriors, evoking Manhattan's bustling streets, were captured in to maintain the film's New York setting. 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.

Cast and Characters

Main Cast

The main cast of Get a Clue features in the lead role of Alexandra "Lexy" Gold, a spoiled high who transforms into an amateur , marking Lohan's first starring role in a Original Movie following her breakthrough in The Parent Trap (1998). Lohan, who was 15 years old during filming in , portrayed the fashionable teen with a focus on her character's investigative . 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. 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. 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.

Supporting Roles

Amy Ryan portrays Maddy, Lexy's mother, whose interactions introduce family dynamic tension that underscores Lexy's determination to pursue the despite parental concerns. Al Mukadam plays Gabe, Lexy's classmate and love interest, who contributes to the romantic and offers emotional support during the into the teacher's disappearance. Ian Gomez appears as Mr. Orlando Walker, the missing English teacher at the center of the central . Amanda Plummer portrays Miss Gertrude Dawson, a teacher who is romantically interested in Mr. . Charles Shaughnessy plays Charles Meany / Falco Grandville, a and the involved in the corporate plot. The production emphasized cost efficiency by primarily casting Canadian actors.

Plot

Lexy Gold is a 13-year-old high school student from Manhattan's who writes a gossip column for her private 's . She competes with Jack Downey, the paper's editor from a working-class background, for scoops. Lexy photographs her , Mr. Orlando , with another woman, and the image is published in a major . The next day, Mr. Walker disappears, and his car is found in the . 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 $10 million from a . His superior at the time, who framed him, is now pursuing him. 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.

Release

Broadcast and Distribution

Get a Clue premiered on in the United States on June 28, 2002, airing as a Friday night original . The initial broadcast garnered approximately 3.2 million viewers, based on Nielsen ratings data. Internationally, the film was distributed via networks, reaching dozens of countries starting in late 2002, and was dubbed in multiple languages to suit local markets. In line with the direct-to-television approach typical of Original Movies, Get a Clue did not receive a theatrical release. Reruns aired frequently on through 2005, with the movie later featured on Freeform during throwback blocks of Disney content.

Home Media

The film was released on DVD in the United States by Home Entertainment on May 31, 2005, following its premiere on on June 28, 2002. The single-disc release presents the movie in full screen (1.33:1 ) with 5.1 audio and includes a bonus as its primary special feature. 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. "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. It is also accessible for digital purchase and rental on platforms including Apple and . International DVD editions include a version released in the on April 3, 2006, featuring widescreen presentation, English audio, and subtitles in languages such as and English. editions were distributed in with similar subtitle options. No 4K UHD or high-definition upgrades have been issued.

Reception

Critical Response

Get a Clue received mixed reviews from s upon its release as a Disney Channel Original Movie, with aggregate scores reflecting its modest reception among professional reviewers. On , the holds a 40% approval rating based on five reviews, indicating a generally unfavorable response. Similarly, on , it has an average user rating of 5.1 out of 10 from over 7,800 ratings as of 2025. Critics praised 's charismatic performance as the lead, Lexy Gold, highlighting her energetic presence and the film's light-hearted mystery elements tailored for teen audiences. 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 setting, which added energetic teen appeal through inter-school romance and high jinks. However, the film faced for its formulaic and underdeveloped supporting characters, often described as predictable fare typical of productions. The 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." echoed this, scoring it 2 out of 10 and critiquing its overly quirky tone and redundancy in the mystery narrative. 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 audience score stands at 42%, with viewers often citing its fun, escapist vibe for sleepovers and . In retrospective views, it is frequently highlighted as an early showcase for Lohan's rising star power in projects, appealing nostalgically to those who grew up with her roles. 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 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 , a period when DCOMs consistently attracted millions of young viewers. 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. 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 "" films like and Gotta Kick It Up!. For , Get a Clue marked a significant early career milestone as her second lead in a DCOM following (2000), showcasing her comedic timing and star potential just before her theatrical breakout in (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. 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 , underscoring its status as an underrated gem in Lohan's catalog. Retrospectives often highlight it as a charming, overlooked entry in her pre-Mean Girls phase. A notable trivia element is its theme song, "Get a Clue" by the Canadian duo (also known as Simon and Milo), which captured the era's pop sensibilities and appeared on the film's soundtrack as well as in .

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