Nim's Island (2008)

"Nim's Island" is a surprisingly sweet children's film, and a rarity at that. It's geared toward young girls with a thirst for learning and adventure.

The motherless Nim, played by Abigail Breslin, lives on a secluded South Pacific island with her scientist father (Gerard Butler). There, she is home-schooled by dad, nature, the ocean and an assortment of wild life. It's pure fantasy, up to a point. The point: When the father leaves the island for a two-night biological exhibition, a storm hits and leaves him stranded. Alone and certain her father is doomed, Nim frets. Then an e-mail arrives on her computer from adventure novelist Alex Rooker, Nim's favorite author, seeking scientific information from the father for an upcoming book. Knowing that Alex is a hero in line with Indiana Jones, Nim believes her father to be saved. But, Alex is really an agoraphobic San Francisco writer (Jodi Foster) too petrified to leave her front door.

The cast is game, and Foster especially is winning in a comedic role after the dark and dumb "The Brave One" and the lackluster "Flightplan." The film isn't quite a gem, a subplot involving tourists invading the island gets in the way, and one can't help but wonder why any dad would leave his 11-year-old daughter alone. But, it's an easy film to like: The girl keeps her wits about her, and gets to be the hero. All in all, well done. B