Nim's Island (PG, 2008)

Nim (Abigail Breslin) and her scientist dad, Jack (Gerard Butler), have lived on their own private tropical island since Nim's mom died when she was a baby. Thanks to solar panels and a satellite dish, their Swiss Family Robinson-like treehouse is equipped with a phone, email, and electricity -- all of which come in handy when Jack heads out to sea to look for a new species of plankton and leaves Nim by herself. He's only planning to be gone for a couple of days, but a nasty storm leaves him stranded -- and Nim increasingly worried. She turns to her favorite author/hero, adventure writer Alex Rover, for cyber help, little suspecting that Alex is actually a neurotic, borderline agoraphobic woman (Jodie Foster). Both Alex and Nim are in for several surprises before their adventure ends.

Aside from the central email plot device, NIM'S ISLAND has the feel of an old-fashioned family adventure -- the kind star Foster made a couple of when she was a kid actor herself in the '70s (Candleshoe, anyone?). Kids will love Nim and Jack's tricked-out tree house, which is much more elaborate than the simple hut described in the book the movie is based on -- ahh, movie magic. They'll also love Nim's island friends -- Selkie the sea lion, Fred the marine iguana, Chica the sea turtle, etc. -- and Nim herself. Breslin is engaging and sympathetic as she copes with storms, invading tourists (the movie's closest thing to "bad guys"), and facing her fears about her missing father. Dirty, wild-haired, science-savvy, book loving; Nim is the anti-starlet, and just the kind of role model tweens could use more of.

The adult actors are also appealing. Foster is funny, relatable, and down to earth -- it's nice to see her doing something so lighthearted after a string of intense dramas/thrillers, and she's really one of the highlights of the movie. Butler is a bit corny as Jack, but in his other role -- he also stands in as the Indiana Jones-like hero of Alex's books, who comes to life when she needs someone to talk to -- he's roguishly charming. Along with the movie's strongly positive messages about believing in yourself and helping others, the three stars make it easy to overlook the movie's weaker areas (the script is a little bit cheesy in spots, and some of the plot twists require a pretty big suspension of disbelief even for a kids' adventure movie). Kids who go exploring with Nim will have a great time.

Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
Director: Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin
Cast: Abigail Breslin, Gerard Butler, Jodie Foster
Genre: Family and Kids
Run time: 95 minutes
Theatrical release: April 4, 2008
DVD release: August 4, 2008
MPAA Rating: PG
MPAA explanation: mild adventure action and brief language.