Fanciful adventure fun for the whole family. Nim Rusoe(Abigal Breslin)is a young girl that lives on a deserted island with her scientist father Jack(Gerard Butler). He is more interested in one cell creatures in the ocean, while Nim's best friends are a bearded dragon lizard named Fred, Galileo the pelican and Selkie the sea lion. The island paradise is full of adventure and imagination runs wild. While Jack is lost at seal, Nim reaches out via e-mail to her favorite author Alex Rover, who has turned out a series of adventure books about the self-named hero. The author is actually not the rugged swashbuckler adventurer in Nim's imagination, but Alexandra Rover(Jodie Foster),petite and germ obsessed, who lives like a hermit in her San Francisco apartment. Alexandra has hit a writer's block and wants to see for herself the volcano Jack had written about in National Geographic. She makes it to the tropical paradise and helps Nim wait out her father's return. Foster is at times humorous playing second fiddle to a too-damn cutsie, cutsie Breslin.

I like a good family movie, and Nim's Island was that. It isn't perfect though, that I do agree with. Much has been said about the story being predictable. In a sense it is, but the movie also had a lot of wit and charm that didn't make me worry about that too much. I do think however some elements of the story could've been better done, for example there is the odd part that are brought up but abandoned, some of these were great ideas that could've been expanded upon. The animals are sweet and colourful, though one or two such as the parrot could have done with being a little less artificial. However, I loved the vibrant costume and set design and the understated cinematography. There is also a beautiful score, good direction, secure pacing and a funny and charming script. Abigail Breslin is one of the more promising recent child actresses and her cute, appealing lead performance proves this. Jodie Foster is good value as usual, and Gerard Butler is effective in two roles, though I think he's better as Rover. Overall, charming and definitely worth seeing. 8/10 Bethany Cox

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.