Review of Nim's Island (2008) by Sharon L — 15 Dec 2008

Nim's Island strikes me as having little appeal. Most over the age of 10 won't be able to get past the over-acting, the loosely managed plot, the lack of any real villains, the little character development, and the syrupy-sweet ending. And most of the male persuasion will be bored by the lack of action or any identifiable male characters. So if you're a girl under the age of 10, love the idea of wild animal pals, and fantasize about having a paradise island all your own to swing around in and defend, this one is for you. There is something to be said about just enjoying a light-hearted adventure, and Nim is certainly that.

But even so, the elements of the adventure are so incredibly scattered and seemingly unrelated, that it ends up feeling like a collage with very rough edges. Plus, the lack of any real metaphoric, symbolic, or moral content also make the story seem unpolished and slipshod.

The real story here, indeed the only real character development, all of the best lines, and some of the funniest oversold acting that actually works all come from Jodie Foster. Still, the real hilarity of her character hinges on the novelty of seeing Jodie Foster letting loose in an over-the-top zany role, not in the character herself.

Forced, puerile, and sporadic, Nim's Island is strictly for the kids, though even to them I wouldn't recommend it.