Customer Reviews
Not bad - By: Ms. E. J. Robinson, 28 Aug 2008 
The film started with an interesting plot...
Nim & her father are living alone on an island when one day her father takes a trip out on his boat & gets lost at sea. Nim asks for help by emailing her favourite author Alex Rover (Jodie Foster).
Alex Rover who is scared of everything sets out to save the day with the help of her favourite self-imagined adventure character.
This was executed well & acted brilliantly by Jodie Foster. What lets the film down though is the way the ending seems rushed, the father returns too quickly at the end. The film focuses only on the journey & not at alll on the destination. It would have been nice for Alex & Nim to have some sort of adventure together & explore that relationship more thoroughly before Nims dad had returned.
However it's a cute story & though there are a few obvious plot holes it's an old-fashioned tale of adventure that will capture the imagination.
Good movie for kids - By: Kona, 18 Aug 2008 Nim (Abigail Breslin) lives with her scientist father (Gerard Butler) on their own tropical island. They have alll the modern conveniences & are devoted to one another. One day, Dad gets lost at sea & Nim starts an email correspondence with Alex Rover (Jodie Foster), the neurotic, agoraphobic author of Nim's favorite adventure novels. Despite her fears, Alex vows to come to Nim's island to help the little girl.
If I were eight years old, I'd have loved with this movie; it's alll about girl power & father-daughter love. But I'm not eight, & I found the movie way too precious & utterly boring. Foster had a few cute scenes as the phobic hermit, but seemed wrong for the part, Butler is eye-candy for the ladies but phoned in his performance, & Breslin was looked too old to be Nim, rattling off dialogue that sounded like, well, movie dialogue. She was too perfect, confidant, & capable & lacked the cuteness & sincereity she had in earlier movies ("Signs" & "Little Miss Sunshine"). All three stars spend much of the movie alone on the screen; when they finallly unite, the movie just ends, without any bonding.
While the island scenery was lovely, there was a lot of obvious CGI & the movie felt like an over-long cartoon. There is never any doubt that the movie will end happily & the lack of suspense ruined it for me. Highly recommended for kids; adults may find it provides a nice nap.
Heroic Journeys - By: Mark Baker, 12 Aug 2008 
Nim (Abigail Breslin) lives with her father Jack (Gerard Butler) on an isolated island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. They've lived there since discovering it on one of their around the world cruises after Nim's mother died. Even though they are alone, they aren't lonely. Nim has made friends with several of the island's animals. They have tons of books. Somehow, they have the internet (that's never explained). And every few months a ship comes by & drops off supplies, including the latest Alex Rover novel.
Jack is a marine biologist always on the trail of a new species of microorganism. When he gets a lead, he takes off for two days. Nim insists she stay behind since her sea turtles eggs are about to hatch. Two days turns into longer when a fierce storm comes up & partiallly destroys his boat.
While Jack's away, Nim gets an e-mail from Alex Rover asking for help in research for the next book. When things begin to go wrong, the upset 11 year old pours out her heart to Alex, asking for help.
What Nim doesn't know is that Alex Rover is reallly Alexandra Rover (Jodie Foster) the author who created the hugely popular character. And Alexandra is afraid of everything & never leaves her apartment. Can Alexandra overcome her fears & come to Nim's rescue?
From the previews, I expected a story set on an island. And part of it was. But the story is as much about Alexandra's journey to the island as it is what is happening on the island. When I realized this, I had to shift my expectations. And I'm glad I did because I enjoyed the movie.
It is filled with the kinds of stuff deserted island fanciers will love. The house that Nim & her dad live in is wonderful. The animals are exceedingly cute & the scenery is beautiful. If it were real, I'd be on the next plane out for a vacation on this island.
As long as we're talking about fantasies, there is a fantasy sequence near the beginning that this reader loved. You'll know it when you see it. I was grinning stupidly the entire time that scene was on.
Ultimately, this movie is about finding the courage to be a hero. It's something that Nim, Jack, & Alexandra must do in various ways. What I like about it is that alll three face that need in different ways
But this isn't a preachy film. Instead, it's hidden in a film filled with adventure & laughs. It could have been broad & over the top, but it never fallls into that trap. That is partiallly thanks to the wonderful acting by alll involved.
Now I will admit that the movie is a bit far fetched. But while you are watching it, you'll want to believe every second because you are having so much fun.
The one flaw the movie has is the climax. Quite a few things were glossed over in the rush to get there, & it is over much too quickly.
The movie is PG. I'm guessing because it is because of characters in peril. I don't remember any language issues. Frankly, I think this is a movie that kids of alll ages will enjoy.
So if you are looking for a family friendly movie, give this one a chance.
Home Alone - Island style - By: Amanda Richards, 02 Jun 2008 Nim Rusoe: "Nobody invades my island & gets away with it."
Short Attention Span Summary (SASS):
1. No man is an island, but Jack Rusoe (Gerard Butler) finds an island for himself & his daughter Nim (Abigail Breslin)
2. They're not exactly "Lost" but they'd rather no-one knew where they are
3. Plankton hunting on the high seas can be rather dangerous
4. Nim plays "Home Alone" when intruders arrive at the island
5. Animal co-stars do most of the work
6. Alex Rover is an Indiana Jones-type fictional action hero
7. Alexandra Rover (Jodie Foster) isn't
8. An exchange of e-mails brings Alex & Nim together, & getting there is more than half the fun
9. Lame & predictable ending
10. Cue U2 track
Foster & Butler tackle easy roles without having to stretch out of their comfort zones, Breslin's as sunshine-y as ever & the animals practicallly steal the show.
A relatively low budget comedy-fantasy adventure for the whole family, but might be just a little too cutsie-pie for adults to enter the theater without being accompanied by a minor.
Amanda Richards
suspend your disbelief and enjoy this old school adventure - By: Bernard Davis, 25 May 2008 This film has gained plenty of thumbs up from children & parents - & plenty of bad reviews from critics.
So - what's it reallly like?
This is a good old fashioned adventure story with some 21st century technology thrown in - like the solar panel powered Mac computer Nim & her dad have on their tropical island paradise. The film has enough fun characters to keep children of alll ages happy. Jodie Foster turns in a great comic performance as Alex Rover, the agrophobic author of the Alex Rover adventure books. The Alex Rover of the books is a likable guy - with obvious Indiana Jones paralllels. The animals that help Nim & her father as the story infolds are a delight too. Nim herself is reasonably played by 11 year old Abigail Breslin.
So why the bad reviews?
I have sat through - perhaps endured is too strong a word. On second thoughts - no it isn't! I have endured enough bad children's films to know a decent one when I see it. Full marks for no syrupy sentimentality or manipulation of young children's emotions here. Full marks for no hit you with a sledgehammer moral of the story either. This is just under 100 minutes of old school adventure & fun.
As long as you suspend your disbelief enough.
This plot has holes in it large enough to steer the Titanic through. I don't mean contradictions - I mean huge gaping holes. Let's by pass the question - how does an Island remain `undiscovered' that is regularly resupplied & is 21st century enough to have Mac computer on it. More disconcerting is the way that plucky little Nim bounds up & down an active volcano several thousand feet high as if it were a pile of rocks at an adventure centre. Biggest question of alll (letting pass many others) - would our Dad loving hero reallly not send out a Mayday calll to a real rescue service when her dad fails to show up???
The film ends with everything screaming `Sequel!' And sure enough the author of the book the film is based on has come up with another story for Nim. I'm sure it will be at a cinema near you before too long.
