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July 2007 DVD REVIEW: THE LAST MIMZY

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By Kam Williams DVD REVIEW: THE LAST MIMZY Cast: Chris O'Neil, Rhiannon Leigh Wryn, Joely Richardson, Timothy Hutton, Rainn Wilson, Director: Robert Shaye Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Widescreen, NTSC Language: English Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Number of discs: 1 Rating: Rated PG mature themes, mild peril and some salty language. Studio: New Line Home Video DVD Release Date: July 10, 2007 Run Time: 97 minutes DVD Extras: Director’s feature-length audio commentary, music video, deleted scenes, theatrical trailer, interactive game, plus numerous other featurettes

Escapist Kiddie Fantasy Arrives on DVD Based on “Mimsy Wore the Borogroves,” a short story written by the sci-fi, husband and wife team of Henry Kuttner and C.L. Moore in 1943, this escapist children’s fantasy might be best described as a cross of E.T. and Zathura. Though not measuring up to either of those excellent adventures, The Last Mimzy is a special-effects driven spectacular which still ought to hold the tykes in wide-eyed thrall, if being a bit too scattered in scope to recommend as adult fare. Set in Seattle, the film follows the daring exploits of Emma (Rhiannon Leigh Wryn) and Noah Wilder (Chris O’Neil), precocious youngsters whose lives are transformed when they find a mysterious black box on the beach. The treasure trove is filled with what they presume to be toys, including a stuffed rabbit named Mimzy. But they soon discover that the items have a variety of supernatural powers such as mental telepathy which they share with the siblings. While the kids are experimenting with levitating, time-traveling, telekinesis and clairvoyance, their clueless parents (Timothy Hutton and Joely Richardson) fail to take notice.However, the same can’t be said of their impressed teacher (Rainn Wilson) or of the head of Homeland Security (Michael Clarke Duncan) who arrives to investigate all the strange goings-on. With government intent on using the Patriot Act as an excuse to confiscate the magical objects, little Emma and Noah who suddenly find themselves on an urgent mission for world peace and to save the planet from ecological ruin. A timely cautionary tale, even if its heartwarming message gets a little garbled along the way.

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