A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: The Last Mimzy

Date Viewed: 3/10/07, 3/25/07

Details:

Rhiannon Leigh Wryn

Chris O'Neil

Joely Richardson

Timothy Hutton

Rainn Wilson

Kathryn Hahn

Director: Robert Shaye

Score: +1/2

The Review: Children are alien. Such has been the contention for as long as science fiction has been written; one might even remove the adjective, and simply look at the history of fiction. Contrary to the Who's (My Generation) lyrics, "the kids are not alright." This theme has been mined for decades, from Wyndam's 1957 Midwich Cuckoos (a book followed by two movies curiously retitled Village of the Damned, 1960 and 1995, not to mention several less attractive sequels), not to miss Wyndam's 1968 Chocky, through a series of short story collections (William Tenn's 1954 Outsiders: Children of Wonder, and a series from Roger Elwood, 1969's The Little Monsters, 1971's Young Demons, and 1973's Demon Kind) -- not to mention the more literal "children are evil" variant found all too commonly (and unimaginatively) in various horror and pseudo-religious tracts.

As individuals, the husband and wife team of Henry Kuttner and C.L. Moore have contributed substantially to the science fiction universe, but when they wrote together under the pseudonym Lewis Padgett, magic happened. One such example is their 1943 short story "Mimsy Were the Borogoves", which has become the core, or more accurately, the inspiration of The Last Mimzy. I stumbled upon this story a very long time ago (even before its inclusion in Elwood's Little Monsters), and it's currently available in several classic collections (Silverberg's Science Fiction Hall of Fame, volume 1 is perhaps one of the easier places to find it). It was a wonderful story with hints of everything I've come to like in a story -- lost knowledge, cute gadgets, a sense of wonder, bewildered authority figures, an undertone of rebellion, a connection with a literary and historic past (and a curious connection to the author who lent his aura to their chosen nom-de-plume) -- all wrapped in a good short story with a few good twists. Gee, I wish I'd found that box...

But I was probably already much too old...

The Last Mimzy is situated in Seattle and nearby Whitby Island, and follows two young children Emma (Wryn) and Noah (O'Neil) as they stumble onto something strange in the surf. From there, the adventure flows. Keep your mind open; remember what it was like when you were a kid.

I don't know whether to recommend that you (re)read the short story before seeing the movie, or not. There are massive differences, as if the screenwriters simply used the kernel of the idea, added a malevolent but politically correct undertone, and tried to reach a very different resolution -- something that might be difficult in a short story format. But there are also a few events in the film that will seem strange and uncharacteristic, unless you've just read the story: minor, admittedly, but just ripe to spawn cognitive dissonance and inattention. But having chosen to re-read the story just as I was waiting in the theatre for the lights to dim, I can definitely say that this is not really a children's film. It may have been advertised as such, the trailers seem to imply this, it's rated appropriately, and there are young children as actors (Rhiannon Leigh Wryn is quite good as Emma) -- but what's happening will go way over the head of anyone younger than 7 or 8. This is not E.T. revisited. I have first hand experience of this, having overheard whispered conversations in the row behind me as just such a young girl continually wondered when it was going to be over, or when they could leave. As an adult, however, I enjoyed it -- a clever concept, well spun, just enough humor, laced with menace that you somehow know is not really menace, some wild goings-on. It's about children, and they really are different, but it's not for children.

And it stands up well on a second viewing.

(11-Mar-07)

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