Customer Reviews
No better, but no worse, than what you'd expect from a movie like this 
2008-10-05
There are some really nice scenes in here---the operative word being "nice." I liked the line of Joan Cusack's where she says that all kids are from Mars, and at least this boy admits to it. I also liked Dennis's deadpan expression when he said something along the lines of, "I just gave you a Martian wish. Don't waste it." But overall, it was just a predictable story that we've all seen a million times before. Man seeks to add depth to his life by reaching out to a troubled child, only to find out that he's got his work cut out for him. There are the people in authority who question his "unorthodox" methods of child-raising. He has a female friend who we get the sense is one kiss away from becoming his romantic partner (actually, she's barely in the movie and kind of fades into the background once she fulfills her primary duty in the film by acting suspiciously intimate with David/Cusack). And in the end, he and the boy learn some valuable life lessons. So yeah, the movie is a little too tame for my taste.
This isn't a bad movie. It's a "safe" movie. It's a little too safe.
Totally sappy, boring, predictable 
2008-09-18
I watched this because I am a fan of John Cusak. In this film he does the best he can with a totally sappy predictable humdrum script. I was bored out of my mind. The film drags. The dialogue is totally predictable. The premise is silly and misleading. I have worked with special needs children and this movie gives the false impression that a little love conquers all. As such, the movie is misleading and does a disserive to needy children who need stable homes, loving parents, and a lot more than is not even hinted at in this film. I wasted 90 minutes watching this film. What a disappointment.
High reviews from one of the creatures 
2008-09-08
I grew up feeling like "a creature" in my own childhood and I remember well how it was when I always felt like I didn't fit in because I wasn't like everybody else. This movie is sweet and easy to watch---in fact, I watched it 3 times in 3 days. John Cusack plays David, a successful young writer of science fiction. David and his wife had planned to adopt a child but she died two years earlier. David is matched with Dennis because Dennis believes he's from Mars and David writes about Martians. Be sure to watch the extra stuff, too, the movie about making the movie and the short film about the REAL "Martian child." One of the best lines in the movie is by Angelica Huston, who asks David, "why can't you just be like we want you to be?" Yeah, that's the question alright. Anyway, "Martian Child" is a wonderful little movie that you'll absolutely love. I did!
Heart-warming story 
2008-09-06
John Cusack plays a man who has been recently widowed but who resolves to follow through on a plan he and his wife had made to adopt a child. He is introduced to Dennis, a little boy who spends his time inside a box, claiming that he is from Mars and is afraid of the sun. Cusack decides to take a chance and he brings Dennis home, lovingly entering his world and gently urging him to join "the rest of us". This is a touching movie and the growing relationship between Cusack and Dennis (Bobby Coleman) is delightful to see. The movie avoids a lot of possible pitfalls and succeeds in demonstrating that people can put up some unusual walls to avoid suffering further hurt.
Martian Child 2008-08-31
I actually spent a great deal of this movie trying to hate it due to its fair amount of flaws. It's cutesy, predictive mush that likes to jerk hard on the heartstrings and any sensible moviegoer would roll his eyes and beat his head against the seat before him. But I guess I'm a sucker for the weird kid no one understands. If nothing else, this film had good intentions, and those intentions should count for something.
The movie begins with David, a grieving widower (who is not gay despite the movie's origins, but hey) who decides, for some reason involving the wishes of his late wife, to adopt a kid. But not just any kid--the autistic, traumatized Dennis who hides in a box. Crying puppy sad enough for you? But never fear--David is a offbeat sci-fi writer with a quirky friend-who-is-a-girl and a sensible sister to make everything all better. We get to watch David and Dennis struggle to bond and face the real world, using all sorts of great inspirational lines. Yay for all those writers, and another roll of eyes for having the character of the editor weep fondly over the story-of-the-story.
The filming and the score are only average, and frankly so was the storytelling. And yes, I did check my watch once or twice during the many slower parts.
But I suppose it was a slow story, and I did appreciate the whimsical bits of comedy. Even if it were so-so writing, it was a cast of actors that can certainly hold their own, especially the little boy.
And I was crying at the end. So sue me.
"Isn't Being Human Unique Enough?" 
2008-08-11
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."Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY/FAMILY GATHERINGS UPC: 794043106835 Manufacturer No: N10683
SWEET MOVIE 2008-07-30
THE MARTIAN CHILD
Love any movie with John Cusack. And where there is John Cusack, there is Joan Cusack, who is also a favorite of mine. The brother/sister team always work well together. The saying goes actors should never work with children and animals -- however, this movie really worked well with everyone involved being awesome.
Cusack plays a sci-fic writer who is dealing with the passing of his wife and having writer's block. He feels he needs something/someone in his life and applies to become an adoptive parent.
Enter Bobby Coleman, a cute, sweet, talented little actor. He is Dennis. Dennis is odd, a misfit, one of those kids that everyone picks on and makes fun of. However, all of this doesn't seem to bother Dennis and he truly believes he is from Mars. He has his own little language, is super intelligent, walks to the beat of a different drummer.
Cusack takes him into his heart and home and tries to help Dennis overcome all of his problems. Dennis steals, lies, and doesn't have any friends. Add all of these factors to him believing he is from Mars and you have a child who is crying out for attention, affection, stability, and love.
This is a great family movie. The Cusacks are always good in everything they do. Bobby Coleman who plays Dennis had this role down pat. He had great facial expressions, his voice was always in a different tone zone, and he was marvelous. Hope to see more of this young man in the future.
Great family movie, for people of all ages. This movie was fun, interesting, and heart-warming. Highly recommend!
Thank you!
Pam
Thank you 2008-07-21
Thank you for shipping this so quickly and the dvd is was in very good shape, no scratches!
An Exceptional Movie 2008-07-13
The boy (Bobby Coleman) was amazing! You will most certainly see more from him in the future. Beautiful, heartwarming tale of a widower in the midst of adopting a troubled young boy who believes he is from Mars. John Cusack is always great to watch and does not disappoint here. This movie is well worth the time invested. I would recommend it!
Excellent movie with rare presentation of male role 2008-07-09
This movie has very unique in that the lead char is not some cartoon character as is common in most movies where the guy becomes a father figure such as those by the Rock or Whole Nine Yards. The kids pain is quite real but not in your face while the movie builds to a well reasoned and emotinally satisifying conclusion with breakthroughs for all the lad characaters. Great movie to watch when your tired of movies that center on people dying, heros that somehow avoid being hit by hours of machine buy spray, or trite "feel good movies" ending with the the guy on microphone at some public event professing his love.
