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Movies / On DVD / Nim's Island
Nim's Island

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Nim's Island (2008)

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Reviews Counted:95

Fresh:47

Rotten:48

Average Rating:5.7/10

Consensus: Despite good intentions, Nim's Island flounders under an implausible storyline, simplistic stock characters, and distracting product placement.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for mild adventure action and brief language.

Runtime: 1 hr 36 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Theatrical Release:Apr 4, 2008 Wide

Box Office: $47,912,652

Synopsis: Based on the popular children's novel of the same name by Wendy Orr, NIM'S ISLAND follows the adventures of Nim Rusoe (LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE's Abigail Breslin), a spirited young girl who lives on a... Based on the popular children's novel of the same name by Wendy Orr, NIM'S ISLAND follows the adventures of Nim Rusoe (LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE's Abigail Breslin), a spirited young girl who lives on a remote island with her scientist dad, Jack (300's Gerard Butler), and a host of animal companions, including an iguana, a sea lion, and a sea turtle. Nim's idyllic life gets shaken up, however, when her father goes missing while on an ocean outing. Seeking help to find Jack, Nim contacts her favorite literary hero, explorer Alex Rover (also played by Butler), who, in reality, is uptight--and distinctly unadventurous--author Alexa Rover (Jodie Foster). Against her better judgment, Alexa journeys to Nim's faraway home, setting a series of thrilling and funny moments in motion. Directed and written (in part) by the husband/wife team of Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett, NIM'S ISLAND revels in its fanciful premise, never getting hung up on its unrealistic plot points. (E-mail on an extremely secluded island?) While Breslin and Butler are charming, the real revelation is witnessing the oft-serious Foster ham it up in a role requires plenty of slapstick, fish-out-of-water moments. Although teens might roll their eyes at NIM'S unapologetically sugary scenes, younger children will enjoy the giddy mood present of the ISLAND. [More]

Starring: Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler, Abigail Breslin

Starring: Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler, Abigail Breslin

Director: Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin

Director: Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin
Screenwriter: Paula Mazur, Joseph Kwong, Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin
Producer: Paula Mazur
Composer: Patrick Doyle
Studio: Fox-Walden

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Release:

Aug 5, 2008

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Reviews for Nim's Island

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61 - 80 (sorted by date)
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Racist fantasy is never a good start for a children's film, or any film, for that matter.

Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment 1 Comment
04/04/08
Cynthia Fuchs
Cynthia Fuchs
PopMatters

More intimately scaled than a lot of other recent children's book adaptations, the sweet-natured and light-hearted Nim's Island nonetheless achieves a nice hold over its audience.

Full Review Source: ReelzChannel.com | comment Comment
04/04/08
Brent Simon
Brent Simon
ReelzChannel.com

Jodie Foster returns to her kiddie film roots with the warm and whimsical Nim's Island

Full Review Source: Washington Times | comment Comment
04/04/08
Christian Toto
Christian Toto
Washington Times

I'm not going to quibble too much with a harmless adventure flick meant for tween girls. Then again, I'm not going to knock myself out recommending it, either.

Full Review Source: Film.com | comment Comment
04/04/08
Eric D. Snider
Eric D. Snider
Film.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

... neither particularly fantastic nor adventurous.

Full Review Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette | comment Comment
04/04/08
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

For adults, a grueling exercise in patience and endurance, especially in watching actors that we know can do better lowering themselves to try to mold themselves into some fictitious kid-friendly formula.

Full Review Source: ComingSoon.net | comment Comment
04/04/08
Edward Douglas
Edward Douglas
ComingSoon.net

The only wonder eventually elicited by Nim's Island is of a mystified variety.

Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
04/04/08
Nick Schager
Nick Schager
Slant Magazine

A children's movie obviously straining to be magical that falls far short of the goal.

Full Review Source: One Guy's Opinion | comment Comment
04/04/08
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

Nim's Island is all too insular, lost in its own unique universe somewhere between Swiss Family Robinson and Joe vs. the Volcano.

Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment Comment
04/04/08
Bill Gibron
Bill Gibron
PopMatters

Tweens, and particularly tween girls, will have a fine time cheering on the ever-resourceful Nim...

Full Review Source: Worcester Telegram & Gazette | comment Comment
04/04/08
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Nim's Island wants desperately to be Swiss Family Robinson, but it's more like Swiss Miss.

Full Review Source: CinemaBlend.com | comment Comment
04/03/08
Joshua Tyler
Joshua Tyler
CinemaBlend.com

Despite its heart being in the right place, Nim's Island is a strikingly far-fetched and cloying picture that tries way too hard to be alternately juvenile and bittersweet.

Full Review Source: DustinPutman.com | comment Comment
04/03/08
Dustin Putman
Dustin Putman
DustinPutman.com

What kind of world do we live in when a massively talented actress like Jodie Foster becomes the comic relief character in a kid's movie and is called upon to pretend to vomit (twice)? It doesn't ruin Nim's Island, but it doesn't help.

Full Review Source: WaffleMovies.com | comment Comment
04/03/08
Willie Waffle
Willie Waffle
WaffleMovies.com

Good spirited, [but] rushed and clumsy.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
04/03/08
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

devolves into a slapdash version of Home Alone on holiday

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
04/03/08
Sean O'Connell
Sean O'Connell
Filmcritic.com

Some nice scenery, an unexpectedly funny performance by Jodie Foster and a unflaggingly spunky Abigail Breslin make for above average family entertainment.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
04/03/08
Ken Fox
Ken Fox
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Such an air of dumbness hovers over the movie, and it's all played so broadly that nothing about it is remotely believable.

Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
04/03/08
William Arnold
William Arnold
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

A slapdash amalgam of competing visual and storytelling styles, bizarre acting, egregious product placement (particularly for National Geographic) and negative stereotypes.

Full Review Source: Minneapolis Star Tribune | comment Comment
04/03/08
Peter Schilling
Peter Schilling
Minneapolis Star Tribune

...an amalgamation of "Romancing the Stone" (writer leaves safe life to experience adventure), "Cloak & Dagger" (same actor portrays father and literary hero) and "Home Alone" (kid fends off adult home invaders).

Full Review Source: Reeling Reviews | comment Comment
04/03/08
Laura Clifford
Laura Clifford
Reeling Reviews

This supposed adventure movie could use a little more wind in its sails.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
04/03/08
Dezhda Gaubert
Dezhda Gaubert
E! Online
 
 
61 - 80 (sorted by date)
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