1917
Just Mercy
The Lighthouse
Dare Me
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Despite some charms, overt emotional manipulation and an inconsistent tone prevents Martian Child from being the heartfelt dramedy it aspires to be.
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All Critics (108) | Top Critics (32) | Fresh (37) | Rotten (71)
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. Nov 17, 2007 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
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.
Elizabeth Weitzman
Everybody is very earnest, too earnest. Nov 6, 2007
Everybody is very earnest, too earnest.
Richard Roeper
Martian Child wants to make us cry. It nearly made me gag. This is an exercise in shameless and inept emotional manipulation. Nov 3, 2007 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…
Martian Child wants to make us cry. It nearly made me gag. This is an exercise in shameless and inept emotional manipulation.
James Berardinelli
Has enough wit and unpredictability to hold your attention. Nov 3, 2007 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…
Has enough wit and unpredictability to hold your attention.
Kyle Smith
If all this is supposed to be so life-affirming, how come I envied the dead dog? Nov 2, 2007 | Rating: 1.5/4
If all this is supposed to be so life-affirming, how come I envied the dead dog?
Geoff Pevere
It's off in many directions -- false in its details, false in its relationships, false in its emotions -- but probably the first and worst thing that needs to be said about it is that it's also overlong and dull. Nov 2, 2007 | Rating: 1/4 | Full Review…
It's off in many directions -- false in its details, false in its relationships, false in its emotions -- but probably the first and worst thing that needs to be said about it is that it's also overlong and dull.
Mick LaSalle
A five hankie love story from beginning to end, this is Cusack's Oscar gold. The film has a purity in its belief of love and acceptance. A purity that only a Martian Child can show us. Nov 13, 2019 | Full Review…
A five hankie love story from beginning to end, this is Cusack's Oscar gold. The film has a purity in its belief of love and acceptance. A purity that only a Martian Child can show us.
Debbie Lynn Elias
Even an engaging performance by John Cusack can't save this fluff film from being so tiresome. Feb 9, 2018 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…
Even an engaging performance by John Cusack can't save this fluff film from being so tiresome.
Dennis Schwartz
Directed by Spielberg protege Menno Meyjes, Martian Child is contrived, but it works. Apr 23, 2009 | Full Review…
Directed by Spielberg protege Menno Meyjes, Martian Child is contrived, but it works.
Rob Nelson
Just more middling, forgettable fare for the movie memory scrap heap. Aug 25, 2008 | Rating: 5/10 | Full Review…
Just more middling, forgettable fare for the movie memory scrap heap.
Heather Huntington
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. Jun 18, 2008 | Full Review…
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.
Urban Cinefile Critics
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. Mar 10, 2008 | Full Review…
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.
Betty Jo Tucker
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