That was an excellent one.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Nim's Island (2008): Dir: Mark Levin, Jennifer Flackett / Cast: Jodie Foster, Abigail Breslin, Gerard Butler, Maddison Joyce, Anthony Simcoe: Imaginative film about taking possession or losing it. Nim and her father, Jack live on an island paradise. When he becomes stranded at sea she e-mails a fictional hero named Alex Rover. The author is a paranoid female named Alexandra Rover whom is forced to answer the distress call. The ending is heartwarming but the production values are terrible. Directed by Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett who counter the flimsy production with imaginative writing. Abigail Breslin as Nim is introduced without a mother, but brought up by her father to help sustain the island. She is imaginative and intelligent with several animal friends. Jodie Foster as Alexandra must overcome her paranoia to embark on an adventure where she conquers more than her fears. Gerard Butler plays duo roles including Nim's father Jack as well as Alexandra's fictional hero with humour in tact. Other roles are reduced to overacting although Maddison Joyce as a wandering tourist who discovers Nim is a steal. He is unfortunately punished for the belief of lying but then again, these tourist aren't very bright. Families are the target audience and children in particular will enjoy it most. Theme of parental role models accompanies the chaos. Score: 7 ½ / 10

Nim Rusoe (Abigail Breslin) lives on an isolated island with her scientist father Jack (Gerard Butler). Her mother was lost at sea. Alexandra Rover (Jodie Foster) is a recluse germaphobe who writes an adventure series of books that Nim loves. For research, she asked Jack for help. Only Jack has left the island to do research leaving Nim on her own. When a storm batters the island, Jack becomes lost at sea, and Nim ask Alex for help.The three characters are all separated for most of the movie. This is a big problem. They are great actors. They are definitely better together. Typing emails intensely is almost impossible to do.Jodie Foster is a clumsy comedian. Sometimes it works for her but I can think of many others who could do a better job. Abigail Breslin is doing a cute job. Gerard Butler need to differentiate more between his Jack character and the Alex Rover character.As a kids movie, this has its charm. I wouldn't say it has much more to offer.

My Take: A family-friendly adventure that starts to falter midway and on.NIM'S ISLAND started out so well; I really thought I was in for a real treat. In the midst of family movies that try to hard to throw in a lot of potty humor and slapsticks, here's a family movie that will enthrall the kids and constantly remind adults of that sense of adventure. Here's a story of a little girl (Abigail Breslin, a long way from the "Little Miss Sunshine" pageant) who lives with her dad on an uncharted island, makes friends with its inhabitant animals, and go into all sorts of adventure with her caring yet similarly adventurous father (and for the ladies, her father happens to be Gerard Butler).NIM'S ISLAND is like a hybrid of SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON, KITT KITTREDGE (because of Breslin's spunk) and HOME ALONE. Breslin's Nim also loves to read adventure novels, namely those starring her favorite hero Alex Rover (his Indy Jones-like imaginary representation also played by Butler). But when her father goes away and is left alone in the island to defend it from nosy tourists who want to make it a resort. Desperate for help, Nim seeks help from Alex Rover, thinking her dashing hero would arrive and turn her life around and save the island. But actually, her Alex Rover is actually Alexandra Rover (Jodie Foster), a writer from San Francisco who's even afraid to go outside her own house. But when HOME ALONE half of the story takes over, with Nim saving the island from tourist by catapulting lizards and faking a volcano eruption, the magic sadly isn't there anymore. In place of it are some of the usual: silly slapsticks and some tacky special effects.What was promised in the first half of NIM'S ISLAND was really something; a family movie that could have been a real treat for everyone. There should be more scenes with Nim's father. There should be more scenes where Nim discovers that her Alex Rover, the adventurer, is actually Alexandra, a writer lacking every spunk of the adventurer she writes about. Instead, most of that is pushed to the end to accommodate more scenes of Foster having some trouble with the locals (it starts out curiously funny, but slowly tired and one-note). The HOME ALONE-like slapsticks were gratuitous and whatever creativity was set up during the first act is just gone. Although the first half has its charms, Breslin gives an appealing and spunky performance and the island itself is gorgeous; at least the titular island itself is worth visiting numerous times. Rent it or wait for it on TV; it might make a lasting baby-sitter for the younger set. Rating: **1/2 out of 5.

Forget the bad comments, this movie is simply awesome, according to me. Fascinating, and keeps you hooked, and absolutely no violence. Great family movie, and great acting by Nim and Alexandra. Wonderful cinematography and cool locations. Just watch it. I always love movies with islands and lots of ocean stuff. The story is well planned, and the locations are very very cool.This movie is worth watching for those people who love island and water movies. The kid Nim captures the audience attention, and Jodie Foster makes a wonderful performance.Over and all, a great family movie.