Nim's Island (C+ or 2.5/4 stars)
A young girl is alone on an isolated island & communicates with a reclusive author of the novel she's reading in 'Nim's Island', directed by Jennifer Flackett & Mark Levin. She is alone because her scientist father has left on an expedition; and has not returned when he said he would. Scared, worried ... Nim (Abigail Breslin) hopes that her favorite literary character and author (of the same name), Alex Rover (Jodie Foster), will come to rescue her. Little does she know that 'Alex' is a female. This is a film geared for pre-teen girls. I can't get much out of it. But for what it is, its passable entertainment; a kind of adequate.
The movie begins by letting us know tha Nim's mom has long been gone. She was apparently swallowed by a Blue Whale. Yes, the stuff of folklore. Now 11 (or so), Nim & her marine biologist father (Gerard Butler) inhabit a desert island somewhere in the Pacific. Honestly, they seem to live a happy life together. Their house is beautiful. The sun & wind power it. There's internet access (don't know how). And the surroundings are paradise. To pass the time, Nim loves to read books that tell adventures of the great explorer, Alex Rover (think Indiana Jones). Purposeful for this plot, ALEXandra Rover, the agoraphobic/OCD author has to contact Nim's dad to ask him questions about the volcano that rests on his island (in researching for her next adventure novel).
But her emails never reach Nim's dad, Jack, because he's away in his boat; trying to find a new form of cyanobacteria (to quote fellow critic, Kevin) and name it 'Protozoa Nim'. Instead, Nim answers the email. Though she's initially thrilled to be communicating with 'Alex' Rover, things turn dire as a huge storm hits the island. Nim is alone, she tells Alex, & Alex decides (with the help of her imaginary adventure hero, also played by Gerard Butler) that it's time for her to leave the 4 walls of her home, and rescue this little girl. In a twist of fate, both females will have to muster the strength & courage for a journey that would rival any of Alex's adventure novels. Will Jack return? Can Alex get to the island? Will she have to be Nim's adopted mom? Please, you think this movie would be 'that' sad?
'Nim's Island' gets plenty of things right. This is a fantasy movie, more or less. That means that certain characters are, rightfully, in the throes of peril. It also means that cute, interesting creatures sprawl across the screen. Nim has some adorable animal friends: a loveable sea lion that shadows her everywhere; a pelican, & a bearded dragon lizard. ALL seem to understand/communicate with the humans. Is it believable? No. But again, it's fantasy. Some of the best sequences (aided by adept CGI effects) involve these animals; including a possible rescue mission. Abigail Breslin is charming as the spunky young girl. Jodie Foster is surprisingly funny as the neurotic author (seriously, laugh out loud funny). And Gerard Butler is extremely likeable as both Jack & Alex Rover.
But the movie has its problems. 2/3 through the film, an un-engaging subplot involving Australian tourists invading Nim's island rears its head. And speaking of (sub)plots, there's probably a story or 2 too many crammed into this 90 min. flick. No one storyline has enough time to breathe. i.e., I enjoyed Jodie Foster's 'story', but it doesn't really GET anywhere. We only experience a smidge of Jack's dangerous expedition. And there's a lack of groundbreaking action ON Nim's Island with Nim all alone. Very little actually happens in the plot. It's dumbed-down & predictable enough to please the 8 yr. old girls in the audience (which is great!). But what about the 11 yr. old boys, 14 yr. old girls & the adults? There's little interest here for them. All that said, the movie IS good-hearted. It's a pleasant diversion. I cried like a fool for the last 5 minutes. And that goes a long way. I'll always remember that. And that's a good thing.
The movie begins by letting us know tha Nim's mom has long been gone. She was apparently swallowed by a Blue Whale. Yes, the stuff of folklore. Now 11 (or so), Nim & her marine biologist father (Gerard Butler) inhabit a desert island somewhere in the Pacific. Honestly, they seem to live a happy life together. Their house is beautiful. The sun & wind power it. There's internet access (don't know how). And the surroundings are paradise. To pass the time, Nim loves to read books that tell adventures of the great explorer, Alex Rover (think Indiana Jones). Purposeful for this plot, ALEXandra Rover, the agoraphobic/OCD author has to contact Nim's dad to ask him questions about the volcano that rests on his island (in researching for her next adventure novel).
But her emails never reach Nim's dad, Jack, because he's away in his boat; trying to find a new form of cyanobacteria (to quote fellow critic, Kevin) and name it 'Protozoa Nim'. Instead, Nim answers the email. Though she's initially thrilled to be communicating with 'Alex' Rover, things turn dire as a huge storm hits the island. Nim is alone, she tells Alex, & Alex decides (with the help of her imaginary adventure hero, also played by Gerard Butler) that it's time for her to leave the 4 walls of her home, and rescue this little girl. In a twist of fate, both females will have to muster the strength & courage for a journey that would rival any of Alex's adventure novels. Will Jack return? Can Alex get to the island? Will she have to be Nim's adopted mom? Please, you think this movie would be 'that' sad?
'Nim's Island' gets plenty of things right. This is a fantasy movie, more or less. That means that certain characters are, rightfully, in the throes of peril. It also means that cute, interesting creatures sprawl across the screen. Nim has some adorable animal friends: a loveable sea lion that shadows her everywhere; a pelican, & a bearded dragon lizard. ALL seem to understand/communicate with the humans. Is it believable? No. But again, it's fantasy. Some of the best sequences (aided by adept CGI effects) involve these animals; including a possible rescue mission. Abigail Breslin is charming as the spunky young girl. Jodie Foster is surprisingly funny as the neurotic author (seriously, laugh out loud funny). And Gerard Butler is extremely likeable as both Jack & Alex Rover.
But the movie has its problems. 2/3 through the film, an un-engaging subplot involving Australian tourists invading Nim's island rears its head. And speaking of (sub)plots, there's probably a story or 2 too many crammed into this 90 min. flick. No one storyline has enough time to breathe. i.e., I enjoyed Jodie Foster's 'story', but it doesn't really GET anywhere. We only experience a smidge of Jack's dangerous expedition. And there's a lack of groundbreaking action ON Nim's Island with Nim all alone. Very little actually happens in the plot. It's dumbed-down & predictable enough to please the 8 yr. old girls in the audience (which is great!). But what about the 11 yr. old boys, 14 yr. old girls & the adults? There's little interest here for them. All that said, the movie IS good-hearted. It's a pleasant diversion. I cried like a fool for the last 5 minutes. And that goes a long way. I'll always remember that. And that's a good thing.