Martian Child

Big Fat Search

Starring: John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Bobby Coleman, Sophie Okonedo, Joan Cusack
Directed by: Menno Meyjes
Binding: DVD
Published: 2008-02-12

$15.99

Features:

AC-3
Closed-captioned
Color
Dolby

Martian Child

Editorial Review:

A lonely science-fiction writer adopts a boy who claims to be from mars. With the help of his quirky friend & his sister this new father discovers that being a parent means anything is possible. Studio: New Line Home Video Release Date: 05/06/2008 Starring: John Cusack Joan Cusack Rating: Pg
The skeptical, melancholy eyes of John Cusack anchor Martian Child, a sweet but not cloying story of a widowed man who adopts a misfit kid who believes he's from another planet. David Gordon (Cusack) is a successful science-fiction author--which is perhaps what leads a children's counselor (Sophie Okonedo, Dirty Pretty Things) to pair him with a would-be extra-terrestrial named Dennis (Bobby Coleman). Reluctantly at first, David tries to communicate with Dennis by fostering his belief--but as they grow attached to each other, the administrators of the organization that put them together sees this playing along as a failure to be a proper parent and threatens to take Dennis away. The first two-thirds or so of Martian Child are marvelous; though the scenario could be saccharine, the script and performances are full of details and complexities that make it feel genuine and affecting. The last third, unfortunately, seems to be the result of studio meddling, for the themes and emotions become awkwardly overstated. But what will stay with you are the moments of refreshing honesty and tender trust from the earlier part of the movie; the ending, clumsy and tone-deaf though it is, doesn't wipe away the delicate earlier interplay of David and Dennis. Also featuring Oliver Platt (Funny Bones), Amanda Peet (Igby Goes Down), and Anjelica Huston (Prizzi's Honor). --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0

Family movie:

I received this movie in a very timely manner. This is important.
The movie is a nice family movie.

Feel Good Movie to Watch Over and Over Again:

This is a feel good movie that I watch over and over again. John Cusak and his real life sister, Joan, do a superb job of showing the brother/sister relationship where boundaries are sometimes blurred in the name of love. John does a fantastic job of being a "grown up" who is open to allowing this unusual child to be himself for the most part. The whole idea of trying to be the person you are "expected" to be and the realization that you are okay just the way you are, and that it's okay to be your unique... more info

An unexpected joy...:

Wow. I wasn't expecting to like this movie as much as I did. I'm a fan of John Cusack. I love him. I know, I know. Shut up. But I do. The kid though... wow. The kid nearly stole the show on this one. This was such a warm, heart felt film. Every single person in it did a wonderful job of acting, I lost myself in this one for a while. It was really - really - really good. Watch it.

Touching portrait and parent and child connecting:

This a small, gentle movie that is great to watch with family members or someone you love. It's not groundbreaking or anything, but it has great actors - particularly Cusak - and a touching story. Worth checking out if you want a break from guns and explosions.

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