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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.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for thematic elements and mild language

Runtime: 1 hr 48 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:Nov 2, 2007 Wide

Box Office: $7,486,906

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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Release:

Feb 12, 2008

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Reviews for Martian Child

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
tomato

Rob Nelson

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Apr., 23 2009 03:16 AM

Boston Phoenix

N/R

Chris Bumbray

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 27 2009 03:16 AM

JoBlo's Movie Emporium

splat
5/10

Heather Huntington

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Aug., 25 2008 07:02 PM

ReelzChannel.com

tomato

Urban Cinefile Critics

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: | comment Comment | Jun., 18 2008 11:14 PM

Urban Cinefile

tomato

Betty Jo Tucker

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: | comment Comment | Mar., 10 2008 05:13 AM

ReelTalk Movie Reviews

tomato

Tricia Olszewski

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Mar., 06 2008 04:30 PM

Washington City Paper

tomato
2.5/4

David Nusair

Manipulative to an almost absurd degree...

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 22 2008 08:06 AM

Reel Film Reviews

splat
2/4

Peter Canavese

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: | comment Comment | Feb., 03 2008 02:00 PM

Groucho Reviews

N/R

Garth Franklin

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 15 2008 03:15 AM

Dark Horizons

tomato
C+

Robert Roten

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 10 2007 11:47 AM

Laramie Movie Scope

splat
2/4

Matt Brunson

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: | comment 1 Comment | Nov., 18 2007 10:18 PM

Creative Loafing

N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 17 2007 07:08 AM

Screen International

splat
2/4

Elizabeth Weitzman

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: | comment Comment | Nov., 17 2007 07:08 AM

New York Daily News

splat
C

Gary Thompson

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 17 2007 07:08 AM

Philadelphia Daily News

tomato

Matt Kelemen

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 15 2007 01:15 AM

Las Vegas CityLife

splat

Cynthia Fuchs

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 14 2007 08:11 AM

PopMatters

tomato
3/4

Linda Cook

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: | comment Comment | Nov., 13 2007 10:36 AM

Quad City Times (Davenport, IA)

tomato
3/5

Pete Hammond

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: | comment Comment | Nov., 09 2007 02:56 PM

Maxim

splat
2/5

Jim Lane

...a betrayal of the book...

Full Review Source: | comment 1 Comment | Nov., 09 2007 07:49 AM

Sacramento News & Review

splat
2/4

Steve Rhodes

... 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: | comment Comment | Nov., 07 2007 11:49 AM

Internet Reviews

 
 
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