Guest Author - Kirsten Olsen-Keyser

The Last Mimzy is a film based on the sci-fi short story by Lewis Padgett (a pseudonym of Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore) “Mimsy Were the Borogoves” that was originally published in the February 1943 issue of “Astounding Science Fiction Magazine”. It is currently included in the anthology “The Science Fiction Hall of Fame Volume Two, A” edited by renown Sci-Fi writer, Ben Bova.

Like so many movies adapted from great written works, The Last Mimzy misses the mark by a mile and a half. The original story involves a time travel experiment, two sets of toys from the future and three different timelines. It is a tale of ideas and intimate family interactions that has a message of mental transformation and progressiveness. In the early 40’s, the U.S. educational system underwent massive changes including standardization and improved funding. The “new” university offered students more academic freedom as well as restructured sciences and humanities departments. The underlying theme of “Mimsy Were the Borogoves” relates to the social and educational changes of the times by juxtaposing the free thinking children against the stagnant mind set of the parents.

The plot of The Last Mimzy seems more like something written by Al Gore on an acid trip. The future is in peril as human DNA has been corrupted by pollution. A scientist sends a set of toys into the future in order to attract “pure DNA”. It is supposed that the innocence and malleable minds of children will be ready to comprehend the toys for the high tech devices they really are. Enter the FBI (Michael Clark Duncan), one hippie teacher (Rainn Wilson) and a ridiculous song by sell out Roger Waters and you have the perfect tree hugging, ecological disaster plot to make any conservationist proud. Mimzy means well with its message of “Save Mother Earth”, but it could have been accomplished through an entirely original script rather than stealing a few good parts from a classic piece of fiction and throwing away what was essentially the identity and point of “Mimsy Were the Borogoves”. All that can be said about Director Robert Shaye is that he needs to stay away from the camera and just keep funneling his money into producing great films like the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and the Golden Compass (His Dark Materials) series.

Perhaps the criticism is harsh considering this is supposed to be a “children/young adult” movie, but these are exactly the kind of films that should not get a pass. Suggestion: Instead of plopping your child in front of the TV for a few hours of peace and quiet, hand them a copy of the original story. Not only will they gain more insight into free thinking but their minds will not be addled by watching this completely unentertaining calamity which relies too heavily on special effects and liberal agenda to get its point across.

Director: Robert Shaye

Writers: Bruce Joel Rubin
Toby Emmerich

MPAA Rating: PG for some thematic elements, mild peril and language.