Nappaland's DVDBlog

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MARTIAN CHILD (PG)

(New Line Home Entertainment)

Plot Summary: A widower decides to adopt a boy who thinks he’s from Mars.

Reason for the Rating: Thematic elements and mild language

Martian Child is a movie you probably didn’t see in the theater. It didn’t make a big splash when it was released the end of 2007, but this is a movie that you will still want to rent.

John Cusack plays David Gordon, a widowed science-fiction writer who is interested in adopting a child, to fulfill one of his wife’s dreams. Against the advice of his sister, Liz (Joan Cusack), he takes in a young boy, Dennis (Bobby Coleman), who was abandoned, emotionally abused, and now thinks he’s from Mars. A perfect fit in David’s mind…a sci-fi writer and a Martian boy.

While David accepts and loves Dennis despite his oddities, others aren’t quite so understanding. Children at school are cruel, and he’s kicked out of school due to his “special needs.”  Even the state psychologist is keeping a close eye on David and Dennis, ready to pull Dennis out if he doesn’t start believing, and acting like, he’s a boy. So David, unsure of what to do, struggles on, trying to find normalcy in a very abnormal situation, with the support of best friend, Harlee (Amanda Peet), and his faithful dog, Somewhere. Slowly David and Dennis begin to bond over baseball, food fights, and M&M’s, but Dennis still continues to wear his weight belt (so he doesn’t float back to Mars) and slather on loads of sunscreen. What will it take to convince this fear-filled child that he’s not an alien?

This movie isn’t Oscar worthy, and it’s not the most gripping screenplay ever written, but any parent can appreciate the apprehension David feels as a new parent, and any adoptive parent can sympathize with his desire to make this new family just that…a family. There are moments that are heartbreaking and moments of hope. From David learning about the boy who won’t come out of the box, to his “never, never, never, never, never give up” speech, to the fear Dennis feels in going to school without his weight belt, the emotion never lets up. The audience is drawn in by David’s desire to love this child and help him become a little boy. Other then the hope you feel for David and Dennis, the best part of this movie is, of course, Joan Cusack. Her sarcastic wit and outlook on children (“The thing about kids is that they keep coming at you. They’re like mosquitoes, sucking the life right out of you.”) are just so comical in a movie that is pro-adoption.

Interestingly, Martian Child is based on a true story of a science-fiction writer who decided to do something meaningful with his life and adopt a child. This story was strongly inspired by their experiences.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Included on this DVD are several special features other than the standard audio director/producer/writer commentary. Highlights include deleted scenes, working with Bobby Coleman featurette, and the story behind the movie.

DVDBLOG RECOMMENDS:

If you are looking for a feel-good family movie, this is a nice choice.

AFTER THE SHOW: 

• Have you ever felt like you didn’t fit in? Explain.

• Dennis asks David if it’s important to be like everyone else. What do you think?

• The Bible says Christians are aliens in this world. In what ways does your life reflect your heavenly citizenship?

JW

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Note: All movie-related graphics in this column are standard publicity/promotional shots and are owned by their respective movie studios.