Nim (Abigail Breslin) and her father Jack (Gerard Butler) live alone on an uncharted island. Secure from the world, Jack focuses on science while Nim makes friends with animals and reads Alex Rover adventure stories with such enthusiasm that she brings them to life.

Unknown to Nim, the woman who writes the Alex Rover books is as isolated from the world as she is. In San Francisco, Alexandra Rover (Jodie Foster) uses her adventurous alter ego to overcome her fear of the world. One day, as she looks for inspiration for a new novel, Alexandra discovers one of Jack’s scientific articles and emails him. Jack, meanwhile, confident Nim will be fine by herself for two days, has sailed off to discover a new life form. Nim answers the email from her hero and a friendship forms between them.

A storm comes tearing through their lives and the real adventure begins: Jack is lost at sea, Nim is alone and wounded, and Alexandra realizes Nim is a child. Having lost the comforts of isolation, these three discover that people have more value than science or books or safety, and they risk their lives to reach each other.

Casting Gerard Butler to play both Jack and Alex unites the plot. As father and character, he inspires both women to brave adventures. His failure to resolve their dilemmas (let alone his own) forces them to leave the safety of dream worlds to help someone real. They learn to treasure people over isolation and relationships over dreams.

Although many critics have panned the movie for being a failed adventure story, I found the story to be a good lesson and a good movie. Life-in-peril situations earn the PG rating, but the film is suitable for young children. If this movie appeals, I highly recommend the even better Dear Frankie (a smaller, quieter, and more grown-up story now available on DVD).

	Topic: Movies & TV, Reviews		Email a friend
	Keywords: Abigail Breslin, Gerard Butler, Jodie Foster		RSS 2.0
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