Nim's Island

I don't go to a lot of the so-called family films out there. Usually it's because they are animated and I'm not a super big fan of animated movies. Or the movie just looks rather lame. And I don't like dealing with all the children. So if it's something I'm at all interested in I will either go after it's been open several weeks or more likely I will just wait for dvd. However, if you throw Jodie Foster into the mix then I have to see it in theaters. Okay I probably don't absolutely have to but, by the crazy rules for seeing certain peoples movies that I have in my own head I did have to see it. And I had to see it on opening day.

That of course meant running the risk of dealing with screaming obnoxious children. Luckily that didn't happen as the movie was so entertaining the children were very engaged. When I do go to family films I have noticed that live action movies can be very hit or miss with the kids. Either it's right at their level and they love it or it's over their heads and they really have no idea what's going on. While they probably didn't really understand why Jodie's character wouldn't leave her house the writer and director managed to make those sequences very fun and funny so whether they understood or not they still enjoyed that aspect of the story.

I have seen the majority of Ms. Foster's films and I have to say even I was quite impressed with her comedic range. While there were only a few true slapstick parts she did them very well and slapstick is not easy.

As always I was impressed with Abigail Breslin. She is very talented and since she spends most of the movie alone with her animals and communicating via e-mail with Jodie that talent really shows through. The isolation of both her and Jodie's characters came through very well from both of them.

I think my biggest disappointment in the whole movie was that the two actresses didn't have more scenes together. The film isn't really what it is made out to be in the previews. It is more of a three storyline movie and all three storylines finally converge at the end. However, all three story's are good and they do come together good and make since together. The editing in that regards is top notch.

While the casting of the leads was good and everything involving them was well executed the film was hurt by part of the subplot with Abigail's character. The subplot itself isn't the problem. It's just that as usual with these kinds of movies they went for over kill with the casting. Instead of them being characters they seemed more like charactures. They went for your standard fat shlubby characters that don't pay attention to their kid and all that. And the people they got weren't good actors which only made it worse. Especially the one that played the son who actually has a scene with Abigail. That was just done right sad and a little painful to watch.

That aside it was a very good film. I enjoyed the overall story as well as the seperate stories. The comedy was great both in dialogue and action. It is very much worth seeing.

I went to a matinee and it was well worth that price. It would have been worth full price. I will probably even see it again and I may see it at night for full price.