By Buzz Byrne

In the future, the human genome becomes so corrupted and polluted that humanity is withering on the vine. To save the species, a lone scientist sends a robot back in time to collect a pure sample of DNA from an exceptional child. The robot, in the form of a stuffed bunny, is called a Mimzy, and it is the future’s last hope.

Mimzy finds its way to Emma Wilder and her brother Noah, played competently by Rhiannon Leigh Wryn and Chris O’Neil, respectively. At first, Mimzy and its various components are the greatest toys ever, imparting special gifts to the children: Noah learns to speak to insects and Emma learns telekinesis. But, then adults get involved, including the Office of Homeland Security, so the mission becomes that much more of a challenge.

Though derivative, this is still an enjoyable ride and a solid choice for a family rental.
 
This movie borrows heavily from E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL. However, Mimzy the character is less dynamic than E.T., which is nice. This allows the children to step forward and discover their strengths and weaknesses through their actions, and not just how they relate to the alien presence. As Noah, O’Neil does a nice job of balancing annoyance and wonder at his little sister. He is bespectacled and nameless in his fifth grade class, and reveals a nicely understated yearning for his workaholic father’s attention. Noah is a good kid who makes good choices and gets a special gift. He’s not a super-genius or a prodigy or a boy wizard, which should be refreshingly relatable to kids of a similar age.
 
Emma, however, is the prodigy, and Wryn delivers this difficult character pitch-perfect. Cute, earnest and unnaturally wise, Emma could have fallen into cliché, but Wryn projects such an easy demeanor that she is truly endearing. Emma may be a violin virtuoso, but she doesn’t have many friends at school. She may learn how to levitate, but she still needs her brother’s help to build the time portal to send Mimzy home. And, it is this relationship that makes this movie good. Ultimately, regardless of age or gender, these siblings become heroes for each other, and that feels special.
 
The belief system behind this script can easily be dismissed as Human Potential pabulum, but there are other influences, including Judeo-Christian creation theory and quantum physics. It is not exactly cohesive, but then again, it is a children’s movie for the most part.Though the ideas put forth may not be sustained arguments, that’s OK — the introduction to these ideas is what is important. Put simply, as Hamlet said, “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
 
Timothy Hutton and Joely Richardson make for suitably devoted, if confused, parents. Michael Clarke Duncan is reliable with his baritone filling the voice of the Homeland Security Chief. But, the real standouts in the supporting roles are Noah’s science teacher and his fiancée, played by Rainn Wilson and Kathryn Hahn. Wilson has taken a role perfect for his look and talents. As the hippy Tibetan-influenced middle school teacher, he is simultaneously goofy and spiritual. Hahn is equal to Wilson’s game as his palm-reading girlfriend, obsessed with his dreams since he visualized the winning lottery numbers and they didn’t think to play them. It is fun to watch these two dance between open-mindedness and flakiness.
 
MIMZY is probably not cool enough for teens and probably too involved for young children (I watched it with my 4-year-old and she liked it, but mostly for the stuffed bunny). Anyone in between should get a light kick out of it; it was fun enough to hold this parent’s attention.