The Last Mimzy is the cinematic adaptation of C.L. Moore and Henry Kuttner’s short story “Mimsy Were the Borogroves.” The Last Mimzy is a disappointing movie but an endearing story of the value of a child’s shameless hopefulness.
While on vacation with their mother, Emma (Rhiannon Leigh Wryn) and Noah (Chris O’Neil) find a small stuffed rabbit and other artifacts on the beach. Each of the artifacts seems to have a supernatural power, doing bizarre and fantastic things. Emma and Noah slowly figure out how the artifacts work together. Soon the children are saving the day, and all other days.
Rhiannon Leigh Wryn is a twinkling star in this movie. Her wisdom doesn’t feel forced. Her tears roll gently from her eyes. When there is a monumental revelation about her value, she handles it exactly how someone like her should. She is so freaking cute, I just wanted to pinch her. If she were less strong, less smart or sane-seeming, a lot of the things she does and says would be Looney Toons. I was constantly amazed by her performance.
I can’t say the same thing for the rest of the actors in The Last Mimzy. Joely Richardson plays Jo Wilder, the children’s mother. If she has any endearing feelings toward the children she hides them well. Every time she is supposed to be nurturing or motherly, she disappoints the viewer with a cold impersonal inflection that could cause any child to become a serial killer. Even the scenes where she becomes enraged, she doesn’t seem to actually lose control. David Wilder, the father, is played by Timothy Hutton. The stay-away, workaholic father, Hutton is too warm to be away from his family that much and too cold to be with them more often. His performance is flat, dull and uninteresting.
Chris O’Neil’s performance suffers from all the problems of a child actor. It isn’t his fault he’s young; and for a child, his performance is fine. Still, he can be a little annoying from time to time. Annoyances aside, his character is charmingly attached to his sister. Even if he can’t get surprise, anger or frustration quite right, he does charming attachment wonderfully.
It might be unfair to be so harsh to the actors. The screenplay is shallow. I suspect the writing is a case of too-many-cooks-spoil-the-stew. Altogether, there are six writers on The Last Mimzy. First are the two short story writers, Henry Kuttner and C.L. Moore who laid down the basic ingredients and original recipe for The Last Mimzy. Then came the screenwriters, Carol Skilken and James V. Hart, to throw in their ingredients. Lastly, stirring the pot and adding their own spices are screenplay writers Bruce Joel Rubin and Toby Emmerch. How many times does a studio need to reinterpret a short story before it is a complete script? How many different people have to season a script before you realize you’ve gone too far and now it tastes like licking the inside of spice rack?
I was utterly annoyed by the ending. The main plot ending is fine; not interesting but not horrible. It’s the wrap-up at the end that made me want to bite someone. Excuse me, a government security agency acted like a four year old. Psst... Carol, James, Toby, or Joel: why didn’t you fix that before you subjected me to it? Look, I know it’s your job to do what the studio says, but come on; you put your name on it. You have earned a dirty look and a booger flick for such a ridiculous ending.
Visually speaking, The Last Mimzy is astonishing. The animators took special care to not over do the visuals and I commend them for it. Instead of making every single special thing that happens a major event, they instead made them less intimidating so it could stir our curiosity. I enjoyed watching the generated scenes.
If I were six years old, I’d like The Last Mimzy – but I’m not six years old. The Last Mimzy is a bland movie but an adorable story. That makes it an utter shame.
"The Last Mimzy" opens March 23, 2007 and is rated PG. Children & Family, Sci-Fi. Directed by Robert Shaye. Written by Bruce Joel Rubin & Toby Emmerich (screenplay), Lewis Padgett (original short story). Starring Chris ONeil, Michael Clarke Duncan, Rainn Wilson, Rhiannon Leigh Wryn, Timothy Hutton.
