Nim's Island (2008)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Directors:

Jennifer Flackett
Mark Levin

Writers (WGA):

Joseph Kwong (screenplay) &
Paula Mazur (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

4 April 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Family

Tagline:

Be the hero of your own story.

Plot:

A young girl inhabits an isolated island with her scientist father and communicates with a reclusive author of the novel she's reading.

Plot Keywords:

Island | Young Girl | Author | Hero | Book

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Abigail Breslin	...	Nim Rusoe
Jodie Foster	...	Alexandra Rover
Gerard Butler	...	Jack Rusoe / Alex Rover
Michael Carman	...	Captain
Mark Brady	...	Purser
Anthony Simcoe	...	First Mate
Christopher Baker	...	Ensign
Peter Callan	...	Edmund's Father
Rhonda Doyle	...	Edmund's Mother
Russell Butler	...	Old Fisherman
Colin Gibson	...	Cruise Director
Bryan Probets	...	Australian Tourist #1
Andrew Nason	...	Australian Tourist #1
Dorothy Thorsen	...	Blue-Haired Woman
Penny Everingham	...	Older Woman Tourist

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild adventure action and brief language.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

Australia:PG | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Malaysia:U | USA:PG (certificate #43560) | Ireland:PG | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Canada:G (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:6 | South Korea:All | UK:U | Taiwan:GP | Hong Kong:I | Finland:K-7 | Mexico:A | Argentina:Atp | Portugal:M/6 | Norway:7 | Sweden:7 | New Zealand:PG | Peru:PT | Brazil:Livre

Filming Locations:

Bowen, Queensland, Australia

Company:

Walden Media

Trivia:

The Australian sea lions used in the film are named Spud and Friday. Both reside at Sea World Australia, and shared the role of Selkie.

Goofs:

Factual errors: There is no such thing as a "Southern Borealis". They probably mean Aurora Australis.

Quotes:

Nim Rusoe: I don't have to go to school, I'm home schooled.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Getaway: (#17.9)" (2008)

Lost Adventure

'Nim's Island' is one of those films that had the potential to be a great adventure flick but, sadly, misses the mark. The screenplay is inconsistent and the script loses focus. Most of the characters aren't well developed, some are unnecessary and would have been better left out. While there are many plot holes, there are some unnecessary (and irritating, especially the sequences with the caricature bad guy visitors in the island) subplots. The entire film revolves around Nim being stranded on the island all by herself as her father is lost somewhere at sea and a 'borderline' agoraphobic Alexandra travelling to the island to rescue her. The climax is very disappointing. When one sees Nim and Alexandra meet for the first time, something big is expected but nothing like that happens. I would have much preferred that the film focus on Nim and Alexandra's adventure in the island and their attempt to rescue Jack but there's nothing like that. Moreover, the look of the film isn't that appealing. There are some nice glimpses of the island but the CGI is poor and use of green screen copy pasting is too obvious (due to poor lighting). I liked the animal characters but only the adorable sea lion looked realistic. Abigail Breslin and Gerard Butler are okay but they are mostly let down by the shoddy screenplay. However, Jodie Foster was amusing to watch. It's great to see her in a comedic performance and she carries off the eccentric Alex's 'borderline' agoraphobia and determination to save Nim with comic flair. It is her scenes that save 'Nim's Island' from being a total disaster. The film ends on a note that there might be a sequel. If there is, well I hope it has much more to offer.