Shawn's Nim's Island Review

2008 Movie # 44 - Nim's Island

It's very strange that this movie is sandwiched between two of the most fucked horror movies I've seen in quite some times. However this movie reminds me in a way of my thoughts on The Ruins. In that review I ranted about how rare it is that horror movies get it right lately. Well another kind of movie like this are kid's movies, at least in the eyes of an adult.

It's very rare these days that a kid's movie has some entertainment value for the adult. It's very important that theres something in there for the parents to enjoy, but there usually isn't sadly. Pixar has perfected this art. All of their movies are great for both kids and parents. Other movies have done alright with this too, including the recent Horton Hears A Who. I think it's a great thing when the entire family can enjoy a movie, not just the kids. It would make the experience that much better for everyone and can make for a great family night. That's why it's disheartening to see a movie like Nim's Island, a movie aimed solely at the kids and giving the adults virtually nothing.

It's hard for me to review this movie because, as with Veggie Tales, I am clearly not in the target audience. I think that kids would enjoy this movie as it has a sense of adventure I think they would find appearling. I myself was just not interested in what was going on. It reminded me sometimes of Penelope in that it was just a bit too loud and in your face. A lot of the comedy is slapstick in nature, with a couple sequences reminding me a little of the Home Alone ripoff period of the 90's.

The cast done a fine job. It's kind of cool to see Jodie Foster attempt to do a light-hearted comedy, it's just too bad she didn't pick a better movie to do it in. I hope we see more from her in the comedy genre because she looks like she has potential there. Abigail Breslin is quickly becoming one of the better young actors we have and I hope she takes over for the Village of the Damned-ish Dakota Fanning.

I really don't have that much more to say about this one. I can't say it was terrible but I didn't like it either. However I think kids would enjoy it and they are obviously the main audience here. In the future though, I hope we get more kids movies that at least TRY to have something for the older audience to enjoy too. The parents are the ones paying the 50 fucking dollars to get everyone in the movie, why do you have to punish them once they're there?

**/5