SCREEN

So begins Shaye's pleasant adventure, The Last Mimzy, which should do for sci-fi exploration what Robert Rodriguez's Spy Kids did for family espionage. The adults in Noah's life—from his parents (Richardson, Hutton) to his science teacher (Rainn Wilson)—are too caught up in their daily routine to notice that the boy is changing. It isn't until Mimzy causes a citywide blackout that the military—personified by Michael Clarke Duncan—comes snooping around. The movie, at this point, begins to mimic E.T. without actually becoming its emotional equivalent.

Behind the camera for the first time since 1990's Book of Love, Shaye nails some important themes that keep Mimzy relevant and accessible. The film establishes a comforting family dynamic in the Wilders, despite the omnipresence of technology. One of my favorite scenes finds dad David trying to connect with Noah after a hard day's work. He has to repeatedly ask the boy to turn off a blaring video game so the two can have an actual face-to-face.

Too many parents in the audience will identify. They'll also enjoy the antics of Wilson, who tones down his Dwight persona from NBC's The Office to find the hippie vibe of a Mr. Wizard professor who's too cool for school. And most moms and dads will rush home from the theater to download Roger Waters' trippy original tune "Hello (I Love You)," which plays over the end credits. It easily could be a lost track from Dark Side of the Moon.

The rest of Mimzy appeals directly to preteens, primarily boys primed for fantastic adventures. Newcomers O'Neil and Wryn are finds. As Noah and Emma play with their space toys, they grow infinitely more intelligent, but the child actors never lose the important sense of innocence that powers these precious voyages.