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Nim's Island

Nim's Island is located somewhere in the South Pacific, it's exact coordinates are top secret, and it is a wonderous place. There are creatures of all kinds, big and small, that live there.

Nim, the island's namesake, is a little girl who lives on the island with her father, Jack. Jack (Gerard Butler) is a marine biologist/journalist. Together they have made a wonderful life in this remote place since Nim was a toddler. Jack homeschools Nim and supplies are shipped to them on a regular basis so there is no want for anything. What Nim (Abigail Breslin) looks forward to more than anything in that supply shipment is the latest adventure story written by Alex Rover. Nim thinks Alex Rover is the most daring adventurer ever. She daydreams about what his next adventure is and how he will get out of his next trap. Little did Nim know that she was about to have the adventure of her life.

When her father Jack goes out to sea for two days to collect protozoa samples leaving Nim alone on the island, she is prepared. She has her adventure book to read, her animal friends for company, the two way radio to keep her connected to Jack, and the internet. He has gone away before and everything was fine so what would be different about this time, right? Well, in the beginning everything is great. Then they come. The greedy people who want to turn her home into a tourist trap. How in the world will she be able to keep these people from turning her paradise into a tourist trap?

Alexandra Rover, aka Alex Rover the author, is stumped. She can't seem to come up with something adventerous or daring enough for "Alex Rover" in her newest adventure novel. Looking for new ideas she stumbles upon an article written by Jack and emails him with the hope of sparking Alex Rover's new adventure.

When Nim checks her Dad's email, as she was asked to do, she is beyond floored to see an email from the one and only Alex Rover. Naturally Nim responds immediately. Alex believes that Nim is Jack's assistant and continues to correspond.

On his first night at sea, right after saying good night to Nim, a storm blows in and sends Jack for a loop. His radio is knocked off the boat and he gets stranded on the water with a leaking boat. Nim and Jack lose all contact with each other. Will he be lost forever like her mother? How will she make it all by herself? It is up to her to keep the island safe so she doesn't give up. She gets a great idea! She emails Alex Rover asking him to come help her. If she can just hold off the intruders until her hero arrives. What does she do to make the tourists hate the island and never want to come back? Some of the funniest things in the movie!

This is the perfect adventure for Alex Rover, the world's greatest adventurer. However, for Alexandra Rover it is a different story all together. She lives through Alex's adventures since she can't bear the thought of running out of hand sanitizer never mind leaving her own apartment. How in the world is she supposed to travel all that way to another part of the globe with only two coordinates to go by? Watching her work up the courage to get out of the front door and into the cab waiting for her is hysterical!

I saw this movie with my four children and they all loved it for different reasons. My oldest loved the flying lizards scene, my littlest one loved the animals and how they help Nim try to save the island, and they all loved the ending and the similarity between Alex Rover and Jack.

Based on the book written by Wendy Orr, Nim's Island is a fantastic family movie. Fathers and daughters will appreciate the bond between Jack and Nim. When Jack is lost at sea and doesn't give up, even when all hope seems lost, is a good message to children to keep working towards your goal no matter what. Anyone who is afraid of doing something different will appreciate Alexandra's courage in venturing out of her house to help Nim. Most important is that there is a little bit of Alex Rover in all of us. A whole world is out there waiting to be discovered. Think about all that you can accomplish if you try. How will your life be better? How will it be different? You don't have to be the world's greatest adventurer to get out there and learn about it. Don't be scared. Just be you.

Elsewhere on the Web:

Nim's Island Official Site

Nim's Island Wikipedia

New York Times Review Nim's Island

About the Author
Katrina Cramer-Diaz is one of Chiff.com's Toy Reviewers. She is a working mom with four kids and lots of additional experience in kids' movies and entertainment!