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Movies / On DVD / Martian Child
Martian Child

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Martian Child (2007)

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Reviews Counted:102

Fresh:32

Rotten:70

Average Rating:5/10

Consensus: Despite some charms, overt emotional manipulation and an inconsistent tone prevents Martian Child from being the heartfelt dramedy it aspires to be.

Runtime: 1 hr 48 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: After decades of playing single men in romantic comedies from the classic SAY ANYTHING to the critical favorite HIGH FIDELITY, the year 2007 marks a change for John Cusack. With roles as fathers in... After decades of playing single men in romantic comedies from the classic SAY ANYTHING to the critical favorite HIGH FIDELITY, the year 2007 marks a change for John Cusack. With roles as fathers in 1408, GRACE IS GONE, and MARTIAN CHILD, the beloved actor grows up and deserves some of the highest praise of his career. In MARTIAN CHILD, David Gordon (Cusack) is a successful science fiction author, plagued by both the death of his wife and writer's block. When a group home worker (Sophie Okonedo) tries to pair him with a young boy named Dennis (Bobby Coleman), David initially resists. But once David spends time with Dennis, he realizes how special the boy is. The outsider (and sci-fi fan) in David thinks he might just understand Dennis best since the child believes that he's from Mars and he'll return there soon. David and Dennis struggle to create the most unconventional of families, as Dennis strives to learn more about being human. MARTIAN CHILD is a moving drama that works because of the genuine performances of everyone involved, but it rides on both the experienced shoulders of Cusack and those of his young costar, Coleman. Both excel at communicating their characters' isolation and eventual connection, but it's Coleman's work in his first major role that is such a pleasant surprise. Supporting turns from Cusack's sister Joan (who plays his sister in the film) and Amanda Peet add emotional depth to the sweet story. MARTIAN CHILD is based on the autobiographical novel by David Gerrold, who is most famous for writing the STAR TREK fan favorite "The Trouble with Tribbles." [More]

Starring: John Cusack, Joan Cusack, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt

Starring: John Cusack, Joan Cusack, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Sophie Okonedo, Bobby Coleman, David Kaye, Richard Schiff

Director: Menno Meyjes

Director: Menno Meyjes
Screenwriter: Seth Bass, Jonathan Tolins
Producer: David Kirschner, Ed Elbert, Corey Sienega
Composer: Aaron Zigman
Studio: New Line Cinema

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Reviews for Martian Child

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Screen International | comment Comment
11/17/07
Screen International

Directed by Spielberg protege Menno Meyjes, Martian Child is contrived, but it works.

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
04/23/09
Rob Nelson
Rob Nelson
Boston Phoenix
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: JoBlo's Movie Emporium | comment Comment
02/27/09
Chris Bumbray
Chris Bumbray
JoBlo's Movie Emporium

Just more middling, forgettable fare for the movie memory scrap heap.

Full Review Source: ReelzChannel.com | comment Comment
08/25/08
Heather Huntington
Heather Huntington
ReelzChannel.com

John Cusack is the best and main reason to see this mediocre film about a self-confessed oddball and successful sci-fi writer David who adopts a misfit.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
06/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

An amusing and heartfelt exploration of the ups and downs involved when adopting a child -- in this case, one who insists he's from another planet.

Full Review Source: ReelTalk Movie Reviews | comment Comment
03/10/08
Betty Jo Tucker
Betty Jo Tucker
ReelTalk Movie Reviews

The things Martian Child gets right are strong enough to save this apparent glucose-spiker.

Full Review Source: Washington City Paper | comment Comment
03/06/08
Tricia Olszewski
Tricia Olszewski
Washington City Paper

Manipulative to an almost absurd degree...

Full Review Source: Reel Film Reviews | comment Comment
02/22/08
David Nusair
David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews

Though it panders shamelessly, it's not entirely unwelcome in a time when the PG movie is an endangered species. [DVD review included.]

Full Review Source: Groucho Reviews | comment Comment
02/03/08
Peter Canavese
Peter Canavese
Groucho Reviews
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Dark Horizons | comment Comment
01/15/08
Garth Franklin
Garth Franklin
Dark Horizons

What works is Cusack and Coleman. When they are on screen together something interesting always seems to happen.

Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | comment Comment
12/10/07
Robert Roten
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope

The credits state that Martian Child stars John Cusack, Amanda Peet and Joan Cusack, but really, it stars Lucky Charms, M&M's and Amazon.com.

Full Review Source: Creative Loafing | comment 1 Comment
11/18/07
Matt Brunson
Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing

The entire cast is fully committed to this squishily sentimental tale, which is especially impressive given that it's the kind of generic dramedy you'll swear you've seen a thousand times before.

Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
11/17/07
Elizabeth Weitzman
Elizabeth Weitzman
New York Daily News

Cusack seems determined to make this work, and contributes some nice scenes. But he's better than the movie around him.

Full Review Source: Philadelphia Daily News | comment Comment
11/17/07
Gary Thompson
Gary Thompson
Philadelphia Daily News

Martian Child would be a Lifetime Movie of the Week without the Cusacks

Full Review Source: Las Vegas CityLife | comment Comment
11/15/07
Matt Kelemen
Matt Kelemen
Las Vegas CityLife

While David imagines other worlds for profit, Martian Child crash-lands on this one.

Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment Comment
11/14/07
Cynthia Fuchs
Cynthia Fuchs
PopMatters

Sometimes, "The Martian Child" works as a weeper.Other times, you'll just hate yourself for getting wrapped in what essentially is manipulation. It's good-hearted enough, but it plays more with your emotions than it does with delivering an intelligent sto

Full Review Source: Quad City Times (Davenport, IA) | comment Comment
11/13/07
Linda Cook
Linda Cook
Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

John Cusack is perfect but it's Bobby Coleman who delivers one of the most uniquely original kid performances ever. You actually believe he might be from Mars.

Full Review Source: Maxim | comment Comment
11/09/07
Pete Hammond
Pete Hammond
Maxim

...a betrayal of the book...

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment 1 Comment
11/09/07
Jim Lane
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review

... features a mesmerizing kid actor. But, as good as his acting is, it's just a one-note performance ... that starts off as intriguing but ends up becoming tiresomely repetitive.

Full Review Source: Internet Reviews | comment Comment
11/07/07
Steve Rhodes
Steve Rhodes
Internet Reviews
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Martian Child

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