Foster proves adept at broad physical comedy, the animated sequences charm, and codirectors Mark Levin and Jennifer Flackett send up the make-believe Rover with panache.

It's a wondrous and warmhearted adventure story with some nifty special effects and some first-rate performances.

There's a lot to like about spunky Breslin, even when she's unnecessarily recapping events or recapitulating Home Alone as she chases caricatured cruise-ship tourists from her island. She's a charismatic, energetic presence at the heart of the film

Nim's Island is a win-win proposition: an entertaining, diverting adventure saga that offers excitement and a relatable heroine for children, and also will remind their parents of favorite classics from their own youth.

Nim's aquatic adventures and those on land provide the majority of thrills in this exhilarating and enchanting family picture. It's the best I've seen this year and highly recommended for girls and for boys, too.

It's worth spending 90 minutes on Nim's Island. You just wouldn't want to get stranded there.

Its characters, especially the youngest one, are engaging, and few adults are immune to childhood fantasies about secluded tropical isles.