MPAA Rating: PG, for some thematic elements, mild peril and language
Genre: Drama/Sci-Fi/Family
Age range: Ages 6 and up
Runtime: Approx. 90 minutes
Starring: Joely Richardson, Timothy Hutton, Michael Clarke Duncan, Rainn Wilson, Kathryn Hahn, Chris O’Neil, and Rhiannon Leigh Wryn
Studio: New Line Cinema
Release Date: March 23, 2007
The Last Mimzy - Guide Review
Noah (Chris O'Neil) and his little sister Emma (Rhiannon Leigh Wryn), with the exception of Emma's higher than average intelligence, are just normal kids. When the family goes to their vacation house, the kids see a mysterious box on the beach. Noah and Emma find some strange rocks and other objects inside the box, along with what appears to be a stuffed bunny. The bunny speaks to Emma using strange sounds, but Emma understands and begins to call the bunny "Mimzy."
As the children play with the objects, they learn things. Noah begins to excel in his science class, which does not go unnoticed by his teacher, Larry White (Rainn Wilson). Emma becomes attached to Mimzy, and begins to believe that Mimzy has something very important for her to do. In fact, she learns that there have been other Mimzy dolls that were unsuccessful, and her Mimzy will be the last attempt.
The kids' mother, Jo (Joely Richardson), becomes worried as the children exhibit more of their new skills and knowledge, and she alerts their father (Timothy Hutton). Noah's teacher, Mr. White, and his New Age fiancee Naomi (Kathryn Hahn) are convinced the children have a special gift. But when the children's objects cause a strange power outage, the Feds are convinced there is some kind of terrorist activity going on.
Under the direction of Homeland Security regional director Nathanial Broadman (Michael Clarke Duncan), the family is taken into custody. Meanwhile, Mimzy is dying and only Emma and Noah can save the bunny...and the future.
While the rushed storyline may not stand up to heavy critique from sci-fi fans, this is exactly the quality that makes the movie fun for kids. True, viewers will leave the theater with some questions unanswered and some points unexplained, but I don't think they will have been bored.
The Last Mimzy is fast-paced and interesting, though kids may not completely understand everything that happens in the movie. The story itself, including the parts that are underdeveloped or unexplained, will likely generate some wonderful questions for family discussions.
The Last Mimzy - Note to Parents
While none of the objects that Noah and Emma find in the movie are dangerous or harmful, they do cause some strange phenomena and events that could be scary or unsettling to young kids.
Additionally, young children may be unsettled by family being taken into custody or by the possibility of Mimzy dying.
The Last Mimzy (2007) - Content Overview
The following lists some of the most prominent examples of possibly offensive content in the movie (Contains Spoilers):Violence (Mild)
- Armed FBI agents come to the Wilders' home and take the family into custody. The family members are frightened and distraught.
Sex/Nudity (Mild)
- Larry kisses Naomi's mouth and neck affectionately. The two are not married, but live together and are shown in bed as they discuss a dream of Larry's.
Profanity (Mild)
- The word "damn" is used.
- The expression, "Oh my God" is used.
Alcohol/Drugs (None)
Bad/Disrespectful Behavior (Mild)
- One student gives Noah the answers to a test. The boy receives an A on the test, but Noah does not cheat and receives a lower grade.
- Noah retrieves something from the trash that his mother had thrown away and told him he couldn't have.
- Noah and Emma steal a van in order to find the objects that they need to save Mimzy.
Scary Scenes (Moderate)
- The scenes listed under "Violence" may be scary or unsettling to children.
- The objects known as "spinners" cause a vortex that can atomize things, but it does not harm anyone.
- One of the objects ingests another of the strange objects, and the resulting thing causes a blackout across half the state.
- In the vortex, Emma sees a scientist who is in trouble. After the vision, she convulses and Noah screams for his parents to help. In the end, she is fine.
Sad/Unsettling Scenes (Moderate)
- Emma and Noah get very upset when their mother takes the strange objects away from them.
- Emma is very distraught as she explains to FBI agents that the future is in trouble and Mimzy is dying.
- Emma is sad and misses Mimzy after the rabbit leaves.
The Last Mimzy (2007) - Topics to Discuss
- Kids may have questions about the following concepts from the movie: the planet getting sick (environmental issues), time travel, DNA, science, terrorism, and palm reading.
- Kids may have concerns about the FBI and why they came to the Wilders' home and took the family.
