'Nim's Island' Movie Review

A feisty young girl fights off cruise ship passengers in funky attire, dances with a sea lion, and hangs out with lizards in the family adventure film Nim’s Island based on the book by Wendy Orr. Walden Media’s latest entry in the kid-friendly film business delivers mild laughs but fails to enchant the audience the way the book’s been doing to young readers since it was published in 1999.

The film version of Nim’s Island is pretty as a postcard and just as deep. The human and animal stars are, of course, adorable, but anyone over the age of 10 may have a hard time staying awake or involved throughout this family romp.

The Story

The film starts out with an animated sequence explaining the death of Nim’s mother. The unfortunate woman was eaten by a whale – what a horrible way to die! – and now young Nim (Abigail Breslin) and her marine biologist dad, Jack (Gerard Butler), live all alone on an island so remote it’s not on any maps (they should be thankful they don’t have to deal with polar bears, black smoke creatures, or The Others). Growing up with just a dad as human company and a batch of animal buddies hasn’t adversely affected the intelligent 11-year-old. She’s a resourceful kid who can climb trees like a monkey and is just as adept at fixing electrical problems as she is at using the computer.

Nim’s totally caught up in a series of books delivered by a supply boat every so often. The books are filled with all sorts of dangerous adventures and feature the studly Indiana Jones-ish Alex Rover (also played by Gerard Butler). When her dad takes off for a few days of research at sea leaving her all alone, Nim receives an email from ‘Alex Rover’ asking for help with the next book. Nim thinks she’s corresponding with the heroic adventurer himself, but is actually exchanging emails with Alexandra Rover (Jodie Foster), the author of the stories.

Alexandra is nothing like her fictional character. She’s an agoraphobic San Francisco writer who hates germs and lives vicariously through Alex. But when Nim’s dad fails to return home, Nim’s cries for help are too urgent and heartbreaking for Alexandra to ignore. Despite the fact she’s scared to death of leaving her home, Alexandra sets off on her own adventure to help the poor child she’s met only via email.

The Cast

Oscar nominee Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) is cute and perky in this message movie that’s all about believing in yourself. Breslin seems at home amongst her animal co-stars and she’s fine opposite Butler as her dad. Butler (300) tackles two roles and does a good job with what’s been given to him, although his American accent does need some sharpening up. Butler’s better as the adventurer Alex where his roguish charm shines through. When he’s lost at sea as Jack, there’s not all that much he or any actor could do to make the scenes feel like anything more than time-filling fodder.

Two-time Academy Award-winner Jodie Foster flexes her comedy muscles for the first time since 1994’s Maverick. Although it’s been more than a dozen years, Foster really pulls off the part of a homebody whose closest friend is a fictional character. Stumbling, bumbling, and generally slapsticking her way across the globe to find a little girl in trouble, it’s Foster’s performance that is the reason for adults to see Nim’s Island.

The Bottom Line

Like the island where Nim and her dad live, the story’s a little too cushy and neat to be anything other than a kid-friendly treat. There’s electricity and a great internet connection that doesn’t even stay down after a huge storm. All the other creature comforts of any middle-class home can be found on this remote little bit of paradise, and it’s all just a tad too easy to overcome huge obstacles. Plus, so many questions are left unanswered that even young viewers might leave the theater scratching their heads. Why does a smart young woman believe she's talking to a make-believe character? And why does the marine biologist dad stuck at sea but constantly visited by Nim's pelican not figure out a way to get a note back to his worried daughter? Better yet, why doesn't he follow the pelican back to the island? However, Nim's Island is a PG rated film targeting an audience that won’t analyze the plot and that loves happy endings, so the film might be able to slide by with its batch of loose strings left untied.

Husband and wife writer/directors Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett do a good job of balancing the three separate storylines of survival in the film. The three central characters all must face down their fears and Levin & Flackett do a fine job of cross-cutting and counterbalancing Nim, Jack, and Alexandra’s unique challenges to move the story forward. My main complaint about how Levin and Flackett have handled the adaptation is that the dialogue feels dumbed-down. That’s a shame as I really believe younger audiences are more sophisticated than they’re generally given credit for.

Nim’s Island prompts viewers to “be the hero of your own story” and Nim’s Island is all about empowerment, and that message comes across loud and clear. It’s just too bad there’s not much to the film other than what’s laying there on the surface.

GRADE: C

Nim's Island was directed by Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin and is rated PG for mild adventure action and brief language.

Theatrical Release Date: April 4, 2008 PG for mild adventure action and brief language