RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Martian Child
Martian Child

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Martian Child (2007)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
31 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

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

[See More Credits]

  • Trailers
  • Pictures
  • Trailer
    >
    Interviews
    >
1 - 2 of 2

See More Movie Trailers & Pictures

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Feb 12, 2008

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Martian Child

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
 
 
41 - 60 (sorted by date)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

It could have been so easy for this story, about a single man adopting a troubled kid, to enter schmaltzville. But John Cusack manages to deliver plenty of warm fuzzies -- without the sugar shock.

Full Review Source: E! Online | comment Comment
11/02/07
Dezhda Gaubert
Dezhda Gaubert
E! Online

Director Menno Meyjes keeps the sci-fi suspense quotient up just enough to make the ending somewhat disappointingly pat.

Full Review Source: Detroit News | comment Comment
11/02/07
Tom Long
Tom Long
Detroit News

The movie can also be accused of its own sugar overdose as director Menno Meyjes piles on every clichéd situation.

Full Review Source: Detroit Free Press | comment Comment
11/02/07
John Monaghan
John Monaghan
Detroit Free Press

It's hard to take this look at foster care and adoption seriously.

Full Review Source: Contra Costa Times | comment Comment
11/02/07
Mary F. Pols
Mary F. Pols
Contra Costa Times

So bland and safe that it might appeal more directly to children than adults.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
11/02/07
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Cusack carries this unabashed tearjerker.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
11/02/07
J. R. Jones
J. R. Jones
Chicago Reader

Child resolves in a way that's touching, however schmaltzy.

Full Review Source: Charlotte Observer | comment Comment
11/02/07
Lawrence Toppman
Lawrence Toppman
Charlotte Observer

Martian Child has intelligence and a modicum of wit -- if only it had more heart and a kid worth shedding a tear for.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
11/02/07
John P. McCarthy
John P. McCarthy
Boxoffice Magazine

One soggy slab of sentimental uplift.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
11/02/07
Ty Burr
Ty Burr
Boston Globe

It's a bit creepy, since [Dennis's] "quirks" are an unaddressed cry for help in this generic tonal mess that switches to light rom-com mode whenever any of its complicated-fatherhood drama starts to get too realistically sobering.

Full Review Source: Premiere Magazine | comment Comment
11/02/07
Aaron Hillis
Aaron Hillis
Premiere Magazine

A faithful adaptation would almost surely have necessitated that the focus be changed from a father-and-son story to a polemic on gay fatherhood.

Full Review Source: FilmStew.com | comment Comment
11/02/07
Telly Davidson
Telly Davidson
FilmStew.com

Not too dull to sit through without some enjoyment, but forgettable within 24 hours of watching the movie.

Full Review Source: Cinematical | comment Comment
11/02/07
Jette Kernion
Jette Kernion
Cinematical

Martian Boy carries off the relationship with winning performances from [John] Cusack and the young [Bobby] Coleman...

Full Review Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer | comment Comment
11/02/07
Sean Axmaker
Sean Axmaker
Seattle Post-Intelligencer

if you like these emotionally-brittle family dramas, you'll eat this film up. But for a confirmed cynic like myself, it was torture to sit through the movie

Full Review Source: Film School Rejects | comment Comment
11/02/07
Kevin Carr
Kevin Carr
Film School Rejects

The film feels lazily conventional. There are truths to be had here, but much of the film still rings false.

Full Review Source: Christianity Today | comment Comment
11/02/07
Peter T. Chattaway
Peter T. Chattaway
Christianity Today

Apparently, they took the title seriously. It feels so false, you sense it was written, directed and conceived by martians.

Full Review Source: Bangor Daily News (Maine) | comment Comment
11/02/07
Christopher Smith
Christopher Smith
Bangor Daily News (Maine)

Maudlin, mawkish, and slightly misunderstood itself, Martian Child is the perfect example of good intentions wrapped in Hollywood-lite logistics.

Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment Comment
11/02/07
Bill Gibron
Bill Gibron
PopMatters

If you're allergic to schmaltz, bring a bottle of Benadryl along to Martian Child.

Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | comment Comment
11/02/07
Liam Lacey
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

100 percent goo.

comment Comment
11/02/07
Manohla Dargis
Manohla Dargis
New York Times

It's a well-intended psychological drama, but Meyjes is too afraid to permit the film any darkness...a patchy creation, bouncing between sincere questions of homestead stability and fluffy sitcom montages set to ELO hits.

Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com | comment Comment
11/01/07
Brian Orndorf
Brian Orndorf
DVDTalk.com
 
 
41 - 60 (sorted by date)
Text View | |< << 1 2 3 4 5 6 >> >|
all

Latest News for Martian Child

November 04, 2007: Box Office Guru Wrapup: American Gangster Crushes Competition at #1
The North American box office exploded thanks to the scorching debuts of the Denzel Washington-Russell Crowe crime drama American Gangster and Jerry Seinfeld's animated comedy... More...

November 03, 2007: John Cusack gets seriously spaced out, in this cross between A Beautiful Mind and ET. Opens in new window
More...

November 01, 2007: Critical Consensus: American Gangster is Certified Fresh, Bee's a B-, Martian Alienates
This week at the movies, we've got crime lords (American Gangster, starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe), busy bees (Bee Movie, starring Jerry Seinfeld), and kids from... More...

November 01, 2007: Box Office Guru Preview: Bees and Gangsters Slug It Out For #1 Spot
Following a sluggish fall season, November kicks off with a bang this weekend with two high profile films both reaching for the number one spot while appealing to vastly... More...

See All

More DVDs

Close
Top Rentals
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
77% 77% The Hangover
88% 88% Inglourious Basterds
66% 66% Public Enemies
24% 24% G-Force
44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…

More Rentals…

New On DVD This Week
Tomatometer Percentage Movie
82% 82% Paranormal Activity
57% 57% 9
44% 44% Jennifer's Body
58% 58% A Perfect Getaway

More New Releases…

See All

RT On Current TV

The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

Learn how you can be part of the show

More...

What’s Hot On RT

Critics' Best & Worst

Critics' Best & Worst

RT's critic friends offer their choices

Total Recall

Total Recall

We list 10 New Year's Eve-themed films!

2010 Movie Preview

2010 Movie Preview

Find next year's top releases!

Shrek is Back!

Shrek is Back!

Celebrate Shrek's return with this trailer!

Other News

Close
  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Harold Ramis Discusses Filmography, Teases Ghostbusters 3 Source: Heeb Magazine
10
  • National Film Registry Adds 2009 Selections Source: Hollywood Reporter
7
  • New Moon Tops Moviefone's 2009 List Source: Hollywood Reporter
26
  • Star Trek Tops 2009's Most-Pirated Movies List Source: Hollywood Reporter
19
  • Weekly Ketchup: Peter Jackson's Secret Sci-Fi Project
111
  • New Toy Story 3 Clip, Photos Posted Source: Slashfilm
26
  • Danny Trejo Talks Machete, Possible Sequels Source: Collider.com
14
  • It's Official: Jackass 3-D Coming in 2010 Source: Collider.com
16
  • Bryan Singer Returning to X-Men for First Class Source: Superhero Hype
102
  • Mark Strong Talks Kick-Ass, John Carter, and Robin Hood Source: Collider.com
1
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Avatar, Sherlock, and Alvin Team Up To Break Records
358
  • Critics Choose Must-Sees and Worsts of 2009
174
  • RT Editors Choose Their Favorite Films of 2009!
119
  • RT's Ten Most Popular Movies of 2009
53
  • Weekly Ketchup: Peter Jackson's Secret Sci-Fi Project
37
  • Total Recall: New Year's Eve Movies
33
  • RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: 9 and Paranormal Activity
31
  • Critics Consensus: The White Ribbon Is Certified Fresh
13
  • Friday Harvest: Sherlock Holmes, Toy Story 3, and more!
10
  • What We're Watching on Blu-ray from 20th Century Fox!
2
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson
72
  • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
21
  • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
2
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
17
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
12
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
24
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
16
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
24
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
9
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • Martian Child at Rotten Tomatoes
  • Martian Child at IGN
  • Martian Child at AskMen

Fresh Links

Featured
Best Nude Scenes of the Year
Best Nude Scenes of the Year External Link

Moviefone lists their top ten nude scenes from film in 2009.

Hollywood.com's Best of 2009
Hollywood.com's Best of 2009 External Link

Thomas Leupp offers us Hollywood.com's take on the best films of the year.

Best Dozen of the Decade
Best Dozen of the Decade External Link

Last week, MSN gave us their top 09 films. Now see what their favorites of the decade are!

Top 10 Movies of 2009
Top 10 Movies of 2009 External Link

TIME chimes in with their own list of the best films released this year.

Top 20 of the Decade
Top 20 of the Decade External Link

Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!

Promos
Follow RT on Twitter
Follow RT on Twitter External Link

Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo
About Us | Advertise | Contact Us | Press | Careers
IGN | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | Direct2Drive | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Game Sites | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | GIGA.DE | What They Play | Battlefield Heroes
By continuing past this page, and by your continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. | Support | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! RSS Feeds
IGN’s enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA.
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.