The Last Mimzy

 

The Last Mimzy 2007

• Director: Robert Shaye
• Based on book: no
• Cast: Joely Richardson, Rainn Wilson, Timothy Hutton, Chris O’Neil, Rhiannan
• Leigh Rynn, Kathryn Hahn, Michael Clark Duncan
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Joely Richardson – Snowden, Return to Me
• Rainn Wilson – Utopia, Blackbird, Juno, Six Feet Under, Almost Famous, Galaxy Quest
• Why?  Sci fi
• Seen:  4 July 2023 

Nerdy Noah (O’Neil) and his genius little sister Emma (Rynn) find a box of mysterious objects on the beach at their family summer cottage. We already know from the intro that it’s from a scientist in the far future who is trying desperately to save our planet from environmental destruction.

It’s a good premise in a cute story. I know, I know, ‘cute’ is a terrible word. Is ‘sweet’ better? Another adjective might be ‘white’ (almost only), or ‘bourgeois’, or ‘American’, or ‘Daddy-hotshot-lawyer-Mummy-pretty-housewife’ or ‘lovey-dovey-perfect-nuclear-family’? All of which lessen the film’s impact considerably.

All this notwithstanding, the film is growing on me. It’s clever and the kids are appealing, especially smart little Emma. It’s rather exciting too.

So, if you can get past the sugar-coating, it’s worth seeing. 

3* of 5