• Wide Release
• Director: Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin
• Written by: Joseph Kwong , Mark Levin, Paula Mazur, Wendy Orr (book)
• Running Time: 95 minutes
• Language: English
• MPAA Rating: PG - Parental Guidance Suggested
• Cast: Abigail Breslin, Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler, Michael Carman, Mark Brady, Anthony Simcoe, Christopher Baker, Peter Callan, Rhonda Doyle, Russell Butler, Colin Gibson, Bryan Probets, Andrew Nason, Dorothy Thorsen, Penny Everingham, Tony Bellette, Jeff Dornan, Jay Laga'aia, Marea Lambert Barker, Nami Itonaga, John Walton, Jon-Claire Lee, Steve Daddow, Craig Marriott, Matthew Little, Cheryl Craig, Tania Pari, Phoenix Leong, Ashley London, Shannon van der Drift, Maddison Joyce

This film was a joy. I know it’s going against the grain to say that but that’s what I thought. Turning off my brain for the running time of this film, and just letting myself enjoy the cute, sweet characters and simple story is apparently a big no no, or at least that’s what I gather from reading the endless print and online reviews.

Judging from the various pretentious film cycincs, I’m supposed to point out how the book was bastardized by the movie (not that any of the critics probably ever read it); or how Jodie Foster, rather than allowing her character to grow and abdicate many of her social phobias, seemed more interested in hawking Purell among other things; or how Abigail Breslin’s Nim was simply a younger replicated version of Foster’s agrophobic-character, but on a much grander scale. Substitute the interior of a loft for an island, and we have the same dilemma, only, in the case of Nim, her social exclusionism was something to be admired; or, maybe I should whine about how Nim seemed to contradict herself, cherishing lizards on one hand, and on the other, using them as rock substitutes for her sling shots; then there’s that happy ending that wraps things up so nicely. I could whine about all that but I won’t. See, I actually enjoyed “Nim’s Island” and I’m old enough to know that the target audience for this film could care less.

Nim Rusoe (Abigail Breslin) has a great life, living alone with her protozoa-obsessed scientist dad on a secret out of the way tropical island. Her days are filled with endless hours reading, exploring the vastness of the island and playing with her three best friends, who include a loveable sea lion named Selky, a rambunctious pelican named Galileo, and a surprisingly clever lizard named Fred. It seems life couldn’t get any better, especially since the latest Alex Rover adventure novel has arrived, her favourite. However things are about to change, beginning when Nim flat-out refuses to accompany her dad on a planned two-day excursion to watch a drift. Seeing a bit of her mother in her, Jack (Gerard Butler) begrudgingly agrees to let her stay behind alone on the island. As he sets off, Nim receives a strange e-mail from a person claiming to be Alex Rover, yes, the hero from the book Alex Rover.

Little does Nim realize that Alex Rover is actually Alexandre Rover (Jodie Foster) an agoraphobic writer terrified of life outside her bustling spider-infested loft. Apparently she hasn’t left her apartment in months and, judging from her inability to even open her front door to get her mail, she isn't on the fast track to good mental health. Interestingly, that is the least of her worries because she's also struggling to finish her latest Alex Rover novel, and with her editor calling her about missed deadlines, Alexandra is up against a proverbial wall. It seems her action hero is dangling over a volcano and she just can’t seem to figure out a way to rescue him because, as the audience can only surmise, she knows nothing about volcanoes. Looking for inspiration, Alexandra decides to consult the Internet and almost immediately stumbles upon an article about a guy Jack Rusoe in National Geographic online, who lives under the shadow of a giant mountain known as Fire Mountain. She’s intrigued by this and decides to e-mail him with a volley of questions. This sets into motion a private e-mail back and forth between Nim, who Alexandra assumes is Jack’s assistant, and Alexandra, who Nim visualizes as the hyper-masculine cowboy hat wearing hero from the novel.

The next day brings even more surprises as a major tropical storm front moves in, churning up the sea and capsizing Jack’s boat, sending him adrift. When her father fails to show, Nim senses that something is wrong, especially since she can't seem to contact him. Nim’s fears are only heightened tenfold when she spots an ocean liner called ‘The Buccaneer’ off in the distance, making its way toward the island. On board are a bunch of seedy looking blokes who can only talk of the commercial possibilities of the island.

The correspondence between Nim and Alexandra begins to take on a different tone when, at the request of Alexandra, Nim skins her knee while investigating the mountain. It is at that moment that Alexandra realizes that she’s dealing not with a mature science assistant but rather a small child who has been left alone on a remote island. When an urgent e-mail arrives one day from Nim begging for help, Alexandra selflessly throws caution to the wind by confronting her greatest fears and venturing halfway across the world to comfort this little girl she's never met.

From this point forward, the film unfolds as three seperate fibres, each involving characters facing their fears and trying to survive. In the case of Alexandra, it involves plenty of comic moments where she must dive headlong into her plethora of phobias, all while trying to navigate the bustling world outside -- a world she hasn't been apart of in close to a year. Thankfully, she has a companion in Alex Rover, played also by Gerard Butler in a dual role. Even though he’s a figment on her imagination, a device created by Alexandra to ease her nervousness, their witty banter easily comprises some of the movie’s funniest moments. Alexandra’s various run-ins with locals including a couple of grumpy cabbies and one daredevil pilot, also makes for some fun moments. On the island, Nim manages drive off the hordes of ugly vacationers brought to the island by the ocean liner, using all sorts of unique and imaginative tricks, namely having a seal expelling gas and, later, by firing lizards at unsuspecting, terrified guests. Out at sea, Jack is watched over and kept afloat by Galileo, Nim's winged guardian angel pelican, who happily swings by now and again to provide Jack with nourishment, tools and company.

Abigail Breslin (2006's "Little Miss Sunshine") as Nim is a delight to watch. Her talent is unquestionable, and her ability to flow naturally with other actors and her environment is something to be praised. Far from the precocious and annoying kids we’ve grown accustomed to over the years, Abigail is a revelation in this regard because she’s neither. She’s cute but not too cute. Her character’s phobia of outsiders invading her land seems to point towards some deeper issues for sure, maybe the lack of a female presence in her life, but the film is content not to delve into that, for better or worse.

Jodie Foster (1976's "The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane") treads unfamiliar territory here appearing in a family oriented film, with some mixed results. At times she’s quite rigid, not exploring enough the comic possibilities that existed in her story thread, but at other times, she’s really quite wonderful. Her banter with Butler was also quite memorable, opening up plenty of moments that should keep older audience members chuckling, and thinking. Kudos also to Gerard Butler (1998's "Fast Food") who plays both Jack, Nim’s dad, and Alex Rover, Alexandra’s heroic creation. Striking two separate accents, an American one and a Scottish one, for each part, Butler is just as much fun bickering and encouraging Foster’s character as he is providing the fatherly warmth Breslin’s character needs.

In closing, “Nim’s Island” works as a both a journey of self-discovery adventure and a celebration of life family film, and unless you’re one of those overly cynical movie-goer types or I guess a film critic, then you'll probably enjoy this one.