Review of The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue (1999) by Sharon L — 09 Jul 2012

Can you say, "disappointment"? Okay, this movie is... well... it could have been worse. It didn't make me fall asleep, so for that, it gets two stars. However, it made a LOT of mistakes. A LOT of mistakes.

[COMMENTATED SUMMARY SPOILER ALERT].

First off, Justin oversimplified and made some mistakes when he summarized the first movie. One thing that wasn't in the first movie was a prophecy about one of Jonathon's sons becoming a hero. Why was it Timmy, when it could have been Martin? Why not the daughter? Heck, why not Mrs. Frisby, the heroine of the first movie, herself? Then, Timmy's treated like a freakin' messiah and sent to the wondrous land of Thorn Valley while his family has to stay behind for no reason. There, he gets the equivalent of a parade because, well, he's going to be a hero... of something, and be just like his dad! Also, there resides Mr. Agis (who has lost his grumpiness for no reason) and Justin. Years pass by and Timmy gets mixed signals from the adults. On one hand he's going to be the hero of something and on the other hand, they want to keep him out of the action. Eventually a mouse named Jenny shows up and says that the mice who supposedly died from trying to escape from NIMH survived (I actually somewhat liked this, because I feel like the first movie was setting up for something like this. However, I think a couple should have died just for the heck of it. >:) ) and that they were caught again. Jenny escaped, but she wants to rescue her family. For a no good reason, the people of Thorn Valley don't want to help, and after realizing his brother Martin, who we just learn was lost for several years, is trapped in NIMH, Timmy decides to help. As if helping Jenny's family wasn't a good enough reason. So they go to NIMH, finding Jimmy the crow and some bug along the way, who were stealing from other animals. Why doesn't Timmy care that his old friend has turned to a life of crime due to his obsession with shiny things? Anyway, Jenny and Timmy break in and find that Justin and some rats changed their minds and decided to help. They also find -- this is where the movie goes bad -- that the scientists have been brainwashed into dogs, animals have turned into minions, and that the now-crazy Martin has taken over. Suddenly, the movie lost all sense of seriousness. I really wanted to know the back story and intentions behind NIMH, but I suppose that would make too good of a story. So, fast forward past a fight and a fire (no one dies) and in the end Timmy is treated like he single-handedly saved the day while his brother magically turns back to normal thanks to a bandage. -_-.

[END OF SPOILER ALERT].

Also, there were a bunch of horrible songs sprinkled throughout.

I also can't help but feel like the females take the back seat in this story for no good reason. For instance, Ms. Frisby is only seen a couple of times and Jenny isn't given nearly as much credit as Timmy, who gets a statue.

Finally, this story wasn't nearly as touching, emotional, or serious. I'm seriously frustrated with the writers. However, this wasn't the worst movie ever, so go ahead an watch it if you're bored, but don't have high expectations.