Nim (Abigail Breslin from “Little Miss Sunshine”) lives with her marine biologist dad Jack (Gerard Butler) on their own private island. Since her mom was swallowed by a whale, Nim’s pals in the South Pacific are a seal, a lizard and a pelican. She talks to them and thinks they can do amazing things like understand her. Across the ocean in San Francisco, adventure novelist Alexandra Rover (Jodie Foster) has a best friend that is more imaginary. That would be Alex Rover (also played by Gerard Butler). He’s the hero of her best-selling stories who’s always saying, “Be the hero of your own story.” Alex may be Alexandra’s muse and brand, but her real best friends are Purell Hand Sanitizer and Progresso Soup. Let’s interrupt this review for kudos to product placement consultant Julie A. Keller. Nice work there. You got those brands into a lot of dialogue and close-ups. So much for seamlessness. Alexandra is neurotically dependent on both products and packs them on her trip to Nim’s island when her biggest fan gets in a big jam. Alex will later exit Alexandra’s imagination by walking into the same ocean from which Jack is rescued. In the end, Jack, Nim and Alexandra hold hands to the tune of U2’s “Beautiful Day.” Ahhh. Adapting Australian author Wendy Orr’s 2002 novel, co-directors Jennifer Flackett and Mark Levin co-wrote this sunny, uplifting kids adventure with Joseph Kwong and Paula Mazur. With Michael Carman, Mark Brady, Anthony Simcoe, Christopher Baker, Peter Callan and Rhonda Doyle. 96m. (Bill Stamets)
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