Martian Child

This film is about a widowed writer adopting a very difficult child. The child insists that he is from Mars, and is reluctant to have human contact.

"Martian Child" is a warm film that celebrates unconditional love. David's love and patience is constantly tested by Dennis' problematic behaviour. Through open communication, love and respect, they open their hearts to each other. Dennis is an adorable and clever character, even at a young age, he deals with rejection by rejecting others. He even makes up an elaborate story to make himself feel better. It is engaging and sad.

I work in a cinema so I'm in the perfect job not to miss any film releases including minor ones like this film. I call this film a "minor" release because it was not advertised much, just a trailer here and there but it's the type of film that make me happy to work at a cinema otherwise i would have miss out on this little treasure of a film. The story is simple , a lonely widower, also a sci-fi best selling author , adopt a child who lives in a world of his own were he convinced himself that he's a Martian who was sent to earth to study the human race. The child's rather strange, he hates the sun and doesn't smile often. At first the writer he's not sure if he's up to the task to bring up a child with such big issues but little by little he realized that he was the perfect match for the boy. In a world were we have countless film about fart jokes and people getting tortured to death , I found "Martian Child" to be a breath of fresh air. It's a sweet film without being corny. The acting is great all around.John Cusack his wonderful as always but its the young Bobby Coleman who plays Dennis the young boy who's the real star of this film he is great but also likable and god knows how this sort of character could have turned out in the wrong child actor's hands. Joan Cusack bring much of the comic moments in this film and it's nice to see her with her real life brother , I love that woman , she always add something to any film she's in. The most interesting aspect of this film is seeing the character of Dennis progression throughout the film , from a troubled boy to a happy kid , it was really well done. Somme people might found this film "overly sentimental" but I believe it's because we live in a cynical world and a film like Martian child stand out more in a time when we are not used to see a film that doesn't show violence or gross out humor. The main purpose of the film is to introduced us to two character , make us love them and see them grow together and it does a more then decent job at that. I would recommend this film to anyone who has enough of a open mind to accept a film that just wants to grab hold of our heart for 1 hour and 45 minutes. I think this film is a nice little gem and I don't care about all the critics that found it just too sentimental.For the full duration of the film I was interested by the characters and at the end I was happy for them and thats all I ask for a film , that the character are involving.

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.

The book was fantastic! Folks are saying the movie was mushy, but the book was nearly autobiographic of David Gerrold, who is an amazing author. The Martian Child found a fantastic balance of emotion, humor, and a deep investigation of how we can be confounded by something that doesn't fit quite right in our perspective of normal.

Oddly, that is the problem of the movie, as it tries to remove many of the interesting aspects, such as that the father is single and gay, and in fact the task of trying to adopt while not being a heterosexual is almost heroic. While the major component of adopting a behaviorally confounding child is okay for a Saturday morning children's show, Seth Bass and Jonathan Tolins omission of the gay component smacks of the worst kind of censorship because gosh, it may not make as much money, so the movie ends up partial drudge.

I found the interaction with the adopted son very faithful to the book - Bobby Coleman did a great job, and the Cusacks brought their usual amazing abilities that make any film glow. Again I complain of a wasted opportunity to make something extra special. I wish this could be remade with the same actors but a truer adaptation.

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 as David evolves into a caring father. In a moving scene he tells Dennis, "There is nothing you can do to change the way I feel about you…" Cusack commands the story's humanity and underlying strength.

We all want to make a difference in life. And we all want to able to love and be loved—that is what it is to be human. "Martian Child" ultimately celebrates our humanity.