'Mimzy' is no 'E.T.'
By Bruce R. Miller Journal staff writer | Posted: Sunday, July 01, 2007
If you wondered how low a DVD week could go, this is it. Filled with leftover TV shows, one lame movie and "Puccini for Beginners" (I kid you not), it's a week when you might consider some of the stuff you passed up. Like the last season of "The O.C."
The release list doesn't get much better next week, either. But, just in case you're on vacation (or you already have the two season of "Extras"), we offer up "The Last Mimzy."
Practically a clone of "E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial" (which turns 25 this week), "Mimzy" is a New Age look at an age-old fear.
Two kids living in Seattle happen to find some odd objects on the shore. They take them home and discover the objects give them amazing powers. She can levitate; he can craft complex science projects.
Their parents (Joely Richardson and Tim Hutton) are concerned, but not as much as the boy's teacher (Rainn Wilson). He sees similarities between the boy's drawings and ancient symbols. He and his girlfriend talk to the boy's mom but she's not sure she wants to know. When the girl is able to move sugar telepathically, the folks take note.
Unfortunately, the government does, too. A terrorist unit (led by Michael Clarke Duncan) swings into action and targets the kids.
In truth, they're merely acting on the messages from a stuffed rabbit named Mimzy.
Director Bob Shaye knows how to use the innocence of children to tell his story but he can't find the love that's inherent. There are too many technical sidelights, adult discussions and "us vs. them" talks "Mimzy" practically collapses from the weight.
Chris O'Neil as the bespectacled kid who spins a pretty good story reminds one of Henry Thomas. But he's not given the humor - or imagination - that fueled "E.T." Rhiannon Leigh Wryn as his sister is no Drew Barrymore, either. They don't question the messages their fed; they don't share anything with their parents. Instead, they blindly trust the aliens and ignore any concern about their safety.
Wilson -- who's so good as the goofball Dwight on "The Office" -- attempts an image makeover with his straightforward performance. He's OK but one really wants him to crack loose and spout theories about alien invasions.
"Mimzy" has a couple of neat special effects but they're not enough to keep kids interested.
Given the option, most pre-teens would choose a video game over the cerebral fun Mimzy has to offer. It's interesting -- if you happen to like simple stories viewed through a New Age crystal -- but it's no "E.T." That required a genius like Steven Spielberg. This just has a director named Shaye.
Also this week:
TV: "Baa Baa Black Sheep," volume 2; "Degrassi: The Next Generation," season five; "Dora the Explorer: Summer Explorer"; "Eureka," season one; "Ghostbusters animated series," volume two; "Go Diego Go: Ready, Set, Go"; "In the Gloaming"; "White Boyz in the Hood," season one.
Film: "Disappearances"; "Driving Lessons"; "The Future Pack"; "Get Smarter"; "Welcome to the Grindhouse" (four titles)
The release list doesn't get much better next week, either. But, just in case you're on vacation (or you already have the two season of "Extras"), we offer up "The Last Mimzy."
Practically a clone of "E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial" (which turns 25 this week), "Mimzy" is a New Age look at an age-old fear.
Two kids living in Seattle happen to find some odd objects on the shore. They take them home and discover the objects give them amazing powers. She can levitate; he can craft complex science projects.
Their parents (Joely Richardson and Tim Hutton) are concerned, but not as much as the boy's teacher (Rainn Wilson). He sees similarities between the boy's drawings and ancient symbols. He and his girlfriend talk to the boy's mom but she's not sure she wants to know. When the girl is able to move sugar telepathically, the folks take note.
Unfortunately, the government does, too. A terrorist unit (led by Michael Clarke Duncan) swings into action and targets the kids.
In truth, they're merely acting on the messages from a stuffed rabbit named Mimzy.
Director Bob Shaye knows how to use the innocence of children to tell his story but he can't find the love that's inherent. There are too many technical sidelights, adult discussions and "us vs. them" talks "Mimzy" practically collapses from the weight.
Chris O'Neil as the bespectacled kid who spins a pretty good story reminds one of Henry Thomas. But he's not given the humor - or imagination - that fueled "E.T." Rhiannon Leigh Wryn as his sister is no Drew Barrymore, either. They don't question the messages their fed; they don't share anything with their parents. Instead, they blindly trust the aliens and ignore any concern about their safety.
Wilson -- who's so good as the goofball Dwight on "The Office" -- attempts an image makeover with his straightforward performance. He's OK but one really wants him to crack loose and spout theories about alien invasions.
"Mimzy" has a couple of neat special effects but they're not enough to keep kids interested.
Given the option, most pre-teens would choose a video game over the cerebral fun Mimzy has to offer. It's interesting -- if you happen to like simple stories viewed through a New Age crystal -- but it's no "E.T." That required a genius like Steven Spielberg. This just has a director named Shaye.
Also this week:
TV: "Baa Baa Black Sheep," volume 2; "Degrassi: The Next Generation," season five; "Dora the Explorer: Summer Explorer"; "Eureka," season one; "Ghostbusters animated series," volume two; "Go Diego Go: Ready, Set, Go"; "In the Gloaming"; "White Boyz in the Hood," season one.
Film: "Disappearances"; "Driving Lessons"; "The Future Pack"; "Get Smarter"; "Welcome to the Grindhouse" (four titles)
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