The Last Mimzy (2007)

53% of critics liked it
(122 reviews)
57% of users liked it
(253,264 ratings)

New Line Cinema founder Robert Shaye's directorial debut, the family-friendly science-fiction tale The Last Mimzy is an adaptation of a short story by Lewis Padgett. The story concerns a young brother and sister, Noah and Emma Wilder (Chris O'Neil and Rhiannon Leigh Wryn), who discover a strange box… More New Line Cinema founder Robert Shaye's directorial debut, the family-friendly science-fiction tale The Last Mimzy is an adaptation of a short story by Lewis Padgett. The story concerns a young brother and sister, Noah and Emma Wilder (Chris O'Neil and Rhiannon Leigh Wryn), who discover a strange box of artifacts one day while vacationing at the family's summer cottage. When the objects in the box begin to act in strange and mysterious ways, the pair decides to hide it from their mother (Joely Richardson) and workaholic father (Timothy Hutton). When Noah begins to display a previously unknown flair for advanced scientific concepts, the boy's teacher (Rainn Wilson) takes an interest in him. The two youngsters soon become the object of much interest from the government after their new discovery causes a large blackout. Eventually, the duo discovers that they are responsible for helping save the future of humankind, and Emma's precious stuffed rabbit might be something much more than it appears to be. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 36 min.
Directed By: Robert Shaye
Written By: Bruce Joel Rubin, Toby Emmerich
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Kids & Family

In Theaters: Mar 18, 2007 Wide
On DVD: Jul 10, 2007
Studio: New Line Cinema

Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
The special effects are kinda cheesy, and it's a low-rent E.T.
Jonathan F. Richards, Film.com
The Last Mimzy is that phenomenon as welcome as the first robin of spring, a kids' movie that is more than bearable for adults.
Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
Wholesome, eager entertainment that doesn't talk down.
Claudia Puig, USA Today
The movie grows muddled with too many tedious segments involving adults.
Peter Howell, Toronto Star
The gentleness of the film is almost unique in this day and age. It's a true family movie, one that adults likely won't groan at when they are told that the problems of the future are because 'our precious quality of humanity had been turned off.'
G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle
A good-looking, relatively ambitious movie that respects and enhances [sci-fi writer] Kuttner's vision.
Heather Huntington, ReelzChannel.com
Does an excellent job both making science fiction accessible for a younger audience.
Joe Utichi, FilmFocus
Classic kids' fantasy in the spirit of Flight of the Navigator and ET.
Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed
I like to refer to it as "Donnie Darko" sans the violence if aimed towards kids...
Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper
Considering that parts are frightening, parts are nauseatingly sweet, and it's all confusing, it's not clear which demographic Mimzy is aiming for.
Jules Brenner, Cinema Signals
O'Neil and Wryn convey the occult and the mysterious with greater depth than you'd expect them to possess at their respective ages of 13 and 7.
James O'Ehley, Sci-Fi Movie Page
Slight.
Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media
Quirky sci-fi adventure best for fantasy lovers.
Kevin Williamson, Jam! Movies
For much of its scant 96 minutes Mimzy is rudderless in a muddle of metaphysical malarkey and time-travelling science fiction.
Jonathan W. Hickman, Entertainment Insiders
Mimsy seems watered down and limp, especially as it concludes.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...too commonplace and too derivative to make much of an impact.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...tries hard to be magical, charming, and endearing but remains mostly flat and lifeless.
Kam Williams, EURWeb
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.
Kam Williams, NewsBlaze
A timely cautionary tale, even if its heartwarming message gets a little garbled along the way.
Prairie Miller, Long Island Press
The Last Mimzy teases with its intent to spook adults rather than the little ones with these found kid playthings.

Read all 21 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

John M

Made me cry of course since i was watching it with my daughter and she cried.
Alexander D

Good+
Bently L

The Last Mimzy is a more family-oriented version of "Donnie Darko". They both have to do with the future and they both have characters that are rabbits. The only problem is is that this movie is way too confusing for the little kids and promoting this as a family film was a… More
The Last Mimzy is a more family-oriented version of "Donnie Darko". They both have to do with the future and they both have characters that are rabbits. The only problem is is that this movie is way too confusing for the little kids and promoting this as a family film was a big slip. What kind of family movie has two characters that are domestic partners??? Anyways, the storytelling is smart and intelligent. The acting is good. I really liked Rainn Wilson's character. He played it out well. The kid who played Noah was good but whoever played his little sister was great! Her performance was much better than most child actors these days. Michael Clarke Duncan was good as well. I went to see this at the theater and thought the film was going to be a E.T.-type sci-fi family film. WROOOOOOONGGGGG!! I was focused and at the edge of my seat the whole time. When I got out, I actually had to discuss the film's analysis with my sister and father. You know its a good psycological science-fiction film when you discuss the analysis. Is this review convincing you, parents? If yes, GREAT! This movie is highly recommended. But I suggest the film for kids age 8 and older. Too confusing for little ones. Adults will love it too. I think adults will like it more than the adults. When you see it, you'll enjoy it! LOL!!! The Mimzy doll was powered by Intel! LOL!!! "This is Mimzy. She teaches me everything."
Richard C

B
KJ P

One of the best kids movies that I have seen in the last decade. It has a very imaginative child-like story, and it does go somewhere, and for the most part, it's pretty well acted!
Red L

A brother and sister start to display mysterious skills after finding some magic toys. A very interesting movie where the bad guys (the Government as usual) aren't as bad as normal in this type of movie. A bit simplistic of an ending. I especially liked the little girl's… More
A brother and sister start to display mysterious skills after finding some magic toys. A very interesting movie where the bad guys (the Government as usual) aren't as bad as normal in this type of movie. A bit simplistic of an ending. I especially liked the little girl's (Megan McKinnon?) acting.
Dean !

This is pretty good for a family film, not quite as much action as I weas expecting, but it has a good story line and and a fine cast. The children especially act very well for their age. Overall good family fun if not quite a classic.
Bruce B

A Kid's Movie, Yes - No , Better if you decided. But I enjoued it, Open's the mind up thats for sure. Enjoy it with the kids, and you might just watch it again and again and again,
A.D. V

Surprisingly complex & tension-filled for a kids movie. I wish more family films were made like this because it treats its viewers like they have some bit of intellegence. Highly recommended.
Leigh R

Neat little film and very creative.
Justin Y

Before seeing this I had only heard good things from my friends, which gave me high expectations for this. Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw in this film.I can see people finding this movie extremely boring and hearing them say that it was too slow. Well yes, it… More
Before seeing this I had only heard good things from my friends, which gave me high expectations for this. Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw in this film.I can see people finding this movie extremely boring and hearing them say that it was too slow. Well yes, it is slow. But, where this movie lacks in pace it more than makes up for in story. This has got to be one of the greater stories of the decade, maybe even the century. Not only is the story amazing, but the way it is told is brilliant. The slow pace of this movie is what helps with the unfolding of the story. It creeps along and teases you with all these unnatural events leaving you wondering what all this will lead to. This movie really shows how a good story can keep you from getting bored.The acting is pretty good. Rhiannon Leigh Wryn is outstanding and adorable throughout. Its hard to believe she is only 7 years old at the time of this film. Michael Clark Duncan felt somewhat out of place, but I wouldn't have been surprised if he took the role just to be in this. I would have done the same thing if I had been shown the script. I would have taken any part in this.The CG in this film is SUPERB. I was really surprised at how good it was, especially for a film aimed towards a younger audience. Not only is the CG great, but the sound was amazing as well. This film was meant to be heard in 5.1 surround sound. I've never heard it in simple stereo, but I'm pretty sure that will not cut it. The sound brought back memories of the great seismic charges of Star Wars: Attack of the Clones.It was really hard to find anything really bad about this film except for the ending feeling a bit rushed. I would have loved to have had another half hour added to this film. The 90 minute runtime was great, but I think it could have done wonders if it reached the 2 hour mark. This is also considered to be a family movie, but it may be a little much for the really young kids to grasp story wise. A great sci-fi/fantasy film which has become a classic in my book.
Roy G

This is a fun film for all.
Rico Z

This movie was very heart-warming and cute. It does run the risk of coming off as nauseating or even preachy, but that's just a chance you take with any movie. The acting was good and the script was solid (but some cheesy dialogue here and there is present in almost every movie… More
This movie was very heart-warming and cute. It does run the risk of coming off as nauseating or even preachy, but that's just a chance you take with any movie. The acting was good and the script was solid (but some cheesy dialogue here and there is present in almost every movie out there.) The story is basically reduced to these two unsuspecting children who come across a life-changing box with hidden treasures inside. Unbeknown to them, they hold the key to unlocking its mystery and saving the earth within themselves. It's all a bit too much to take in. You really have to suspend your disbelief and go along with it. Don't take the flick too seriously. It delves into themes such as environmentalism, science-fiction, fantasy and sibling rivalry. But overall it's a pretty well-crafted performances and well-thought-out directing. The computer graphics were also very good. Top-notch for this kind of film. It created the right blend between the real world and the fantasy elements mixed within it. On a side note (and not that this has anything to do with the quality of the film, but...) Timothy Hutton's hair plugs looked horrendous. He looked like a sad cross between Tim Allen and Kevin Kline. And those two aren't the best people to be compared to. I think he was grossly miscast. Not because his appearance was an abomination, but because his acting was as well.
Eric B

Why did I think this would be a horror film? Maybe the advertisements were too dark and spooky. Instead, it's an ambitious but sappy tale of a young brother and sister who find a mysterious box sent from the future and are charged with (naturally) Saving The World. Along the way,… More
Why did I think this would be a horror film? Maybe the advertisements were too dark and spooky. Instead, it's an ambitious but sappy tale of a young brother and sister who find a mysterious box sent from the future and are charged with (naturally) Saving The World. Along the way, they develop remarkable powers "taught" to them by interactive items stashed inside the box. Plenty of captivating moments and imaginative visuals, but the story doesn't really add up in the end. "Office" fans will be intrigued to see Rainn Wilson in a different guise as a space-cadet science teacher who is willing to be-LIEVE, man.
Mike N

Just filling in movie ratings, folks. A couple of James Cagneys and some airplane flicks. Wish I had more to say. What's up with that, anyway? Not having the energy for journals anymore? To speak freely like so many of us once did? The activity on these things has sharply… More
Just filling in movie ratings, folks. A couple of James Cagneys and some airplane flicks. Wish I had more to say. What's up with that, anyway? Not having the energy for journals anymore? To speak freely like so many of us once did? The activity on these things has sharply declined on an aggregate level, I imagine, coinciding with the exodus of departing vets for lives of non-RTness. Are we collectively growing less bored with our age or perhaps more tired of each other? What happened to that urge to be that proud monolith in the crashing sea of internet noise? What hath killed the desire to be defiantly bored and ramble on and on and on and on and on in these (eventual) online epitaphs, all for the world's attention? Movies are to blame! There are some good ones, sure, but so few to really champion among our online brethren. Nothing seems capable of sending our blood to a boil anymore. Where have all the quality juggernauts gone? C'moooon, PJ! Let's rock The Hobbit! That'll lure 'em back to the yard! Just...a few more years of...quiet leaves scuttling on the porch, the gentle breeze of yellowing days our only measurement... And so it is autumn.
Bryce I

Focusing on the fantasy part of the story more, would have made it a more entertaining adventure.
Grant B

i thought that it would be terrible, but it was a very nice surprise
Dannielle A

I don't get it. What was the point?
Yinalí R

I absolutely loved this movie. It made me cry so it's definitely worth watching anytime, anywhere.
Joseph E

Not bad!