The Rats of Nim

It's would be easy to dismiss Nim's Island as a run-of-the mill live-action children's comedy, along the lines of Max Keeble or Agent Cody Banks, except for a few key moments when the madcap trouble-in-paradise gives way to a staunch message of environmental activism. How timely! Nim could have been a bold new, blatantly environmentally conscious youth role-model, yet despite some tantalizing steps in this direction, the narrative of the film is ultimately concerned with a few very self-centered human quests.

Not having read the novel, I cannot authoritatively blame this squandered potential on the filmmakers (Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin, a bona-fide husband-and-wife pair, at least for now.) But damn, with the high number of recurring animal characters, the avid interest in science expressed by the lead human characters, and the idealistic tropical-island sets, it seems like someone had to go out of their way to keep the film from being the Fern-Gully of the early 21st century.

As it plays in theaters right now across the country, the film isn't even all that terrible or vacuous. It deals with issues that any child would find weighty, such as the death and imperilment of parents, and the impending loss of a home. Less serious are Nim's subtle, cautious first steps towards romance. Fortunately, Abigail Breslin is highly-capable of taking on the role of the precocious young bookworm and adventurer, and by extension, it is her that ends up carrying the majority of the film. While many comic-book geeks (including myself) were frustrated to learn that Gerard Butler was continuing his post-300 sabbatical from gruesome violence for this picture, playing the dual role of Nim's brainy Dad and Indiana-Jones ripoff Alex Rover, one cannot deny his commitment to the part. His performance exudes charm and contagious energy, and if the viewer squints, Butler could almost be mistaken for Sean Connery in his prime.

Then we come to Jodie Foster- the wildcard- she's made her name as a dramatic actress in thrillers...and here she is playing the comedic role of a timid, agoraphobic, o.c.d. novelist. It's not that she lacks the ability to play against type; it's whether viewers will accept it. As an attendee of a screening filled with mostly mothers and young children, I can report that Foster's performance not only went over well with the intended audience, but that she was actually in danger of stealing lead Breslin's thunder. Foster's routine consists of mostly crude slapstick and stereotyping, but that's all that is required of her, as the script makes her character the clumsy victim of virtually every situation. She does display an amazing range of physical movement, but make no mistake, Jim Carrey she is not.

The problems with Nim's Island don't stem from the acting or the straightforward directing style. Rather, they are the result of a criminally unrealized concept and a poorly paced screenplay. The movie clocks in at what should be a very endurable 96 minutes, but begins to drag noticeably during the second half. Situations that should be resolved in a few scenes extend until the conclusion of the film, which comes about abruptly and anti-climatically. The end is so predictable and sloppy, actually, that it undermines almost everything clever about the rest of the story.

The worst offense of all in Nim's Island is that it actually comes near to subverting its' own fundamentally green message. The titular paradise exists as a playhouse for the humans who call it home, and seems to have no purpose outside of catering to their desires. When Nim attempts to prevent a bunch of cruisegoers from descending upon her shores, the effort seems oddly selfish, far less noble than it should, which is perhaps to be expected from a spoiled only child. Yet still, we deserve more than the expected. That's part of the reasons films are worth watching the first place, because they are surprising, exciting and fresh. If Nim's had brought anything new to the table, if it had delivered even slightly more on its' own environmental inclinations, I might be able to recommend it. But as its cut right now, this film is no more enjoyable than a Disney Channel made for TV movie, and only slightly better acted and produced.

In Sum: Even though the premise seemed to promise something special, Nim's Island is barely more than a recycling of tired cliches played out by some very talented actors. The result is nothing short of disappointing, although it is not substantially worse than most films for kids. Save your money and see this one on TV, if at all.