Martian Child (2007)

I really wanted to like this movie, but images of K-Pax still lingered in my head and so I warily walked into the movie hoping for the best. Sure enough, there is a lot of good in the movie. The acting standard all around is high although the script did not lend much to Amanda Peet's character. Bobby Coleman, in particular, shines as a child who must be both eccentric and yet connect with the audience. The script has some clever moments, but a lot has been done before and been better handled and a couple of points in the movie drag. In spite of this, I was really looking forward to see how the whole story would turn out, and I am sad to say it left me hanging. Not so much plot-wise, but certainly emotionally and it's then the clichés that were masked by some good acting and direction reveal themselves. I'll put it this way. The whole audience remained in the seats for a full 30 seconds when the credits rolling desperately blinking and thinking, "That's it?"

In conclusion, this is a lighthearted movie with great potential that falls flat on the last laps.

Fmovies: 'Tis the season for epic Oscar contending dramas and the ever under-performing family dramas/romantic comedies at the cinema. This is really the only time of year when I really crave a good schmaltz-fest. The air is cold and dry, and I really want to go to the movies and come out two hours later feeling warm and fuzzy and damp from tears of joy. If you're craving a film like that this winter, Martian Child might just be the cure for what ails you.

The story is unassailably touching. David Gordon (John Cusack) is a widower who decides to adopt a child. He chooses a "hard-to-place" child, Dennis (Bobby Coleman), who is convinced he's from Mars. Gordon, a science fiction writer, is a misfit himself, and tends to also escape into fantasy, so he feels connected to the child. The story is about their struggle to understand each other and to make the rest of the world just let them be weird.

The script is adapted from the David Gerrold novel, The Martian Child. It's mostly faithful to the text, except that the David in the book is a single gay man. That's probably why the story behind the dead wife is never told and the romance between David and Harlee is never developed or resolved. Those parts are completely secondary to the point of the film. But that makes me wonder why they couldn't have left the character alone. It might just be audience manipulation. It's impossible to not be sympathetic with a lonely widower, after all. Nevertheless, the introduction of a dead wife did make for a beautiful scene where Cusack is quietly weeping as he flips through old pictures of her.

The acting could not have been more convincing. John Cusack usually plays the ultra-cool and/or neurotic urbanite bachelor roles, but David Gordon is the first of a few roles where he plays the unfortunate father. In this summer's 1408, Cusack grieved his dead daughter. In the Sundance darling Grace is Gone, he plays a widower who takes his two daughters on a road trip while he figures out how to tell them their soldier mother was killed in Iraq. It's a refreshing turn, and he pulls it off effortlessly. And, as a warning, the couple dozen women, who aren't already in love with Cusack, will surely be won over by his performance in this film.

Bobby Coleman is at once creepy and adorable, a la Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense. Joan Cusack makes her tenth appearance alongside her brother as... his sister. She brings much needed comic relief as the frazzled mother of two boys, who attempts to disabuse him of his parental confidence. Amanda Peet turns in a lovely performance as the longtime friend of John's dead wife, who obviously would like to take her late friend's place. Oliver Platt is hilarious as Cusack's agent. Angelica Huston redeems a ridiculous scene as his publisher. Richard Schiff, of The West Wing fame, is the begrudging case worker.

The chemistry between the cast members is fantastic, probably because the majority of the major players had worked with the star before. John Cusack has appeared in earlier films with Coleman (Must Love Dogs), Peet (Identity), Platt (The Ice Harvest), and Huston (The Grifters).

The script did leave a little bit to be desired here and there. What it lacked most was subtlety. But, a self-respecting film snob should be able to put that aside and still enjoy the story, the acting, and the beautiful cinematography. Also, director Menno Meyjes, who also worked with Cusack once before (Max), kept the film concise and engag

As a father/parent with five kids, I highly recommend all guardians of life see Martian Child. I'm personally a better person and have expanded my acceptance of others self-expression. We should all find, our voices and release the Martian Child within us. This is a special singular film in this CGI era. (FYI: I love CGI.) Martian Child balances out product driven entertainment with straight, direct to the soul, honest entertainment. This film has given me, the gift to give my own children much more room to be free, self-expressed and accepted exactly the way they are, and the way they are not. My wife is also enjoying the benefits. If they only knew, I'm simply seeing them as my Martian Child. See it, and find your inner Martian. Luis Moro, Never hide.

Martian Child fmovies. Humor and heart blend well in MARTIAN CHILD (MaCh), adapted by Seth Bass and Jonathan Tolins from science fiction writer David Gerrold's real-life story (except that gay David Gerrold is portrayed here as straight widower David Gordon) of adopting a little boy who'd been mistreated and abandoned so many times, he'd come to believe he was from Mars. As funny and winsome as it is poignant, MaCh is one of the few films about an unconventional family life that doesn't pile on eccentricity for eccentricity's own sake, showing that it's possible to build a happy life and learn to love others despite the personal flaws and developmental/emotional issues of everyone involved. I loved the rapport and chemistry between David and his adopted son Dennis, portrayed endearingly by the ever-appealing John Cusack (reuniting with his MAX director Menno Meyjes) and young Bobby Coleman. It made me think of the scene in GROSSE POINTE BLANK with Cusack's Martin Blank holding a baby, looking at it with this delightful mixture of puzzlement and wonder. (Could that baby have grown up to be Dennis? :-)). The life of a science fiction writer gets some good-natured ribbing, too, in scenes where David has to deal with his agent (Oliver Platt, reuniting with Cusack after his scene-stealing turn in THE ICE HARVEST. Now that Cusack's longtime bud and co-star Jeremy Piven has a steady gig with TV's ENTOURAGE, has Platt become Cusack's new Piven? :-)) and his publisher (I won't spoil the wonderful cameo). Joan Cusack also turns up to provide able support for her bro as David's married sister, full of harried yet sage advice: "The thing about kids is, they keep coming at you." In fact, her family scenes often cracked me up, like her admonishment to her rambunctious boys (or as she affectionately calls them, "Omen One and Omen Two"): "Get off that dog! He's 200 years old in human years. Would you do that to Grandma?" I loved her husband's attitude: "Hey, all kids are from Mars. At least your kid admits it." Although MaCh takes time to have fun even when things get serious (loved David and Dennis's Martian walk/dance to the Guster song "Satellite") and is generally upbeat, with quite a bit of gentle humor, it doesn't shy away from showing the difficulties of adopting an emotionally scarred child, with the frustration and sadness inherent in such a situation. Having adopted our niece after my mother-in-law died, I can tell you from personal experience that picking up in the middle of raising somebody else's child is a challenge even in the best of circumstances, and MaCh captures this aspect well. It also shows that parents, especially those of us raising kids with special needs, often walk a fine line between accommodating a kid's genuine needs and being overly if well-meaningly indulgent. We've adapted David's advice to Dennis for our own child, who was diagnosed with ADHD and Asperger's Syndrome: "When you're at home, it's okay to be from Mars. But when you're out in the world, you have to follow Earth rules." Perhaps you have to have experience in these kind of family situations to best appreciate MaCh (I've noticed that real-life parents tend to appreciate it more than, say, professional film critics :-)). MARTIAN CHILD should be required viewing for unconventional parents of children with emotional or developmental issues and other serious problems. By the way, when I saw MaCh in our local multiplex, there w

While walking with his sister Liz (Joan Cusack) in the park, widower David Gordon (John Cusack) confesses, "I just want my life to have meaning..." I think what David really is talking about is a personal legacy. David is considering adopting Dennis (Bobby Coleman), a strange little boy who spends his days in card board box with cut out holes. Oh yes, and Dennis believes he is from Mars. He is here on earth to study "human being-ness". This is the conceit of Director Menno Meyjes's "Martian Child". The screenplay by Seth Bass and Jonathan Tolins is based on the novel by David Gerrold. "Martian Child" really flew under the movie radar. I had heard about it earlier in the year, and got the gist of the story. Being a fan of John Cusack and Amanda Peete, I was curious to see the "Martian Child". More curious was the lack of fan fare or promotion associated with the movie. "Martian Child" plays much like an independent film, except for its talented named cast. "Martian Child" is reminiscent of "K-Pax" with Jeff Bridges and Kevin Spacey. Where "K-Pax" crumbled despite noble intentions with its horrendously ambiguous ending, "Martian Child" has a distinct conclusion without the pretense or ambition. "Martian Child" is not a great movie. However, for what it is—it is satisfying. Meyjes's "Martian Child" is a sentimental tear jerker that is so very earnest and sweet. John Cusack is amazing.

John Cusack plays David Gordon, a successful science fiction writer. His best selling book is in production as a big budget Hollywood movie. David's agent Jeff (neurotic Oliver Platt) desperately pleads with David to finish his book sequel draft. Their publisher Mimi (Anjelica Huston) anxiously awaits the draft, so she can throw a coming out party in 6 weeks. That is a little wacky. David's wife and the love of his life died two years ago, and since then much of his life is on hold. He lives in a great home with his dog, Somewhere. David's best friend is the beautiful and radiant Harlee (Amanda Peete)—his wife's sister. This makes for a dicey storyline, given the way things usually evolve in these situations. Amanda Peete is great here. She has a naturalness and ease.

David gets a call from his social worker friend Sophie (Sophie Okonedo). Obviously David has reservations about a boy in a box who thinks he's from Mars. Sophie reassures, "You write about Mars." Thus, the experiment begins. David brings Dennis to his home on a trial basis. Dennis wears sun block and sunglasses to counteract being on a planet closer to the sun than Mars. He also wears a weight belt so as not to float away. And Dennis only eats Lucky Charms—which are magically delicious.

David struggles his way through, and begins to really see Dennis. Dennis reminds him of his younger outsider self. David also starts wondering whether Dennis is really who he says he is following meaningful coincidences at a Cubs baseball game, and Dennis's apparent ability to taste color. This seems like a clumsy narrative device.

What eventually wins over "Martian Child" is the brilliant chemistry between John Cusack and Bobby Coleman. There is an inspired moment when Dennis and David gaze above at the stars. Coleman as Dennis embodies the right awkwardness and innocence. He touchingly asks David "Is it good to be like everyone else?" John Cusack is funny, frustrated and nobly compassionate a

I watch an average of 4 movies a week and this is the best film I have seen this year and makes my top 5 of all time list. This is movie making at its best. Everything could not be better, acting, direction, screenplay, casting, music, everything! As a parent the joys and hard parts of parenting were insightfully, thoughtfully and accurately presented, both humorously and straightforwardly as context required. Sences of joy and heartbreak are both delivered without overstatement. The theme of abandonment struck a strong chord in me that had not been touched for sometime and provided some new and healing insight to an old wound. Thank-you to everybody involved with making this movie, you have just made the world a better place.

Sincerely, Chris Anest