The Secret of Nimh 2 Review

 

A sequel that, like with Ferngully and other films of my childhood, I didn’t know even existed. And unfortunately, while it tries to have a similar hero story with helping family, Secret of Nimh 2 makes up continuity from the prior film and uses musical numbers in its tonally inconsistent story. So how bad will this be, over 15 years after the original?

 

The story begins by roughly summarizing the original film, adding in things, like the Great Owl’s claim that Jonathan Brisby was brave (he knew him, but it’s odd to quote him) It even says Nicodemus was a prophet who foresaw that a son of Jonathan Brisby will save the rats from NIMH in the future

 

We then shift to Timmy and Martin racing on walnut shells tied to rabbits (it’s fun somehow?). But Timmy, after trying to catch up when he falls, is caught in a NIMH trap set by Dr. Valentine, which Martin saves him from, saying Timmy doesn’t seem to be destined for greatness

 

The pace picks up as Timmy is sent off on Jeremy by his family (mostly unrecognizable beyond his mother, his sisters’ designs completely new) to Thorn Valley, Martin grousing about his brother being chosen, thinking he’s better suited.

 

Jeremy (as expected) crash lands in Thorn Valley, where the residents sing about how there are many opportunities there (including graduating from college?). Mr. Ages and Justin plan to teach Timmy so he can achieve his purpose, even though they don’t know what it is exactly (and Martin doesn’t qualify?)

 

Timmy shows promise, using a contraption involving a weather balloon to send a snake flying away, but Mr. Ages says that he should think things through and not risk exposing Thorn Valley to humans. As he grows up, Timmy sings a song (seemingly to puberty with a voice change or two), seeking to be like his father and meet everyone’s expectations

 

Justin asks Timmy to help the collection group by keeping watch, all he’s good for as a hero, apparently. Throwing away his whistle, Timmy uses the slingshot Martin gave him as a going-away present, but instead of finding Killer the guard dog (unintentional All Dogs Go To Heaven reference?), he finds a mouse called Jenny, accidentally waking up Killer

 

Jenny, able to read, assists in the escape, though Timmy is chastised for not understanding teamwork (but of course he’d get a complex when everyone treats him like they do)

 

It turns out Jenny is descended from the mice of NIMH that supposedly died, ending up in the basement, but kidnapped by Dr. Valentine with even worse experiments. After seeing 2 annoying cats, Muriel and Floyd, captured by NIMH we move back to Thorn Valley. Timmy says he understands Jenny’s concern for her family, not having seen his in years.

 

Jenny wants to leave and help her family after the council says it’s too dangerous to go to NIMH, but Brutus (who didn’t talk before) blocks her path, the two kids now under house arrest.

 

Timmy, after talking to Jenny about how she learned about Thorn Valley, thinks Martin might be imprisoned at NIMH as well, since he disappeared after Timmy departed for Thorn Valley. The two leave together, tricking Brutus and the others with misdirection, leaving by air instead of by water

 

Before having an abrupt romantic moment, they’re attacked by a hawk and crash land, saved when a caterpillar called Cecil scares it away. He says since they want to ask the Great Owl for answers, they need a gift, but Jenny pressures him to forget that with a bit of violence

 

Meanwhile, Dr. Valentine is experimenting on Floyd and Muriel, some sinister plan afoot

 

Timmy and Jenny learn the Great Owl is actually Jeremy in disguise, he and Cecil fleecing the animals for money and jewels (to be used for what?), quickly exposed after their musical number, escaping with the kids and heading to NIMH

 

The mice enter (Jeremy and Cecil too afraid), confused at the scientists behaving like dogs, seemingly from Dr. Valentine’s experiments, which have also produced more imposing rats

 

Justin and the others arrive, having changed their minds about helping the NIMH mice, but they’re captured by Muriel and Floyd, along with Timmy, who went to find his brother, frustrated at being told to keep watch

 

It’s revealed that Dr. Valentine isn’t the mastermind, but Martin, (being a NIMH mouse hybrid), gained greater intelligence from the experiments and manipulated everyone, trying to get something out of life, like his brother. Timmy rejects Martin’s offer to join him and rule the world together, caged up and singing (along with Jenny in another room) about his mistakes

 

Cecil pops in, finally, saying something that reminds Timmy about the key he was given when he first entered Thorn Valley (a planted item that comes up conveniently here). He escapes and tricks Floyd and Muriel into falling down an elevator.

 

Before Martin can turn Jenny into his “queen”, Timmy frees her, fighting Martin with the slingshot. Jenny assists Timmy when Martin gets the upper hand, knocking some books on him,  Timmy tricking the soldiers into flying the wrong way by imitating Martin’s voice

 

The rats move to escape, a fire started earlier spreading, but Timmy stays behind to save Martin (Jenny confessing her love to him before he goes) They manage to get out with Timmy’s quick and ingenious thinking, Martin recovered after they return to Thorn Valley and Timmy hailed as a hero as the film ends

 

With Timmy as our lead, there’s a predictable arc of not wanting to be a hero, but becoming one after learning from his mistakes about teamwork and proper forethought. It’s done fine, however the initial premise doesn’t make sense with the prophecy putting Timmy on a pedestal. If things were uncertain as to Timmy being the chosen Brisby son, then it would’ve been more natural for choosing heroism rather than being forced on him

 

Jenny serves as a general love interest for Timmy, as well as a contrast to his happy life, her parents imprisoned. The romance is pretty shoehorned in, even for a pair of teenagers. She has agency as a female character, not depending on Timmy, but still falls in love with him (balance?)

 

Martin as an antagonist makes sense with his initial resentment of Timmy and don’t pull his capture by NIMH out of nowhere, though his megalomaniacal ambitions feel a bit absurd. Floyd, Muriel and Dr. Valentine are less important, more bumbling assistants or red herrings.

 

Supporting cast encompasses a lot of the first film’s characters, like the Brisby family, Justin, Mr. Ages, even Jeremy. Cecil’s the only new one and he’s almost forgettable, more a con artist than anything, manipulating Jeremy (who stopped dating his girlfriend he met before)

 

The major theme of identity and balancing people’s expectations with your own talents ties back into Timmy’s hero arc of acting for the good of others in the face of danger, echoing the predecessor’s moral. The idea of not taking family for granted is also present, relating to Martin’s temporary evil turn and Timmy still aiding him

 

In spite of its heart, the film falls very short from the original, not only in the tone, utilizing unnecessary songs and more kid-friendly storytelling, but even in trying to follow the original’s story. Unlike his mother’s tale, Timmy to the Rescue has the clichéd arc of a teenager learning not to be impulsive, in spite of people already expecting greatness. With more emphasis on comedy and a paint-by-numbers plot of someone bucking expectations to become a hero, this is practically as bad as Bartok the Magnificent, not recommended at all.