Product Description

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

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4261 in DVD
• Brand: Warner Brothers
• Released on: 2008-02-12
• Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: AC-3, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.25 pounds
• Running time: 107 minutes

Amazon.com
The skeptical, melancholy eyes of John Cusack anchor Martian Child, a sweet but not cloying story of a widowed man who adopts a misfit kid who believes he's from another planet. David Gordon (Cusack) is a successful science-fiction author--which is perhaps what leads a children's counselor (Sophie Okonedo, Dirty Pretty Things) to pair him with a would-be extra-terrestrial named Dennis (Bobby Coleman). Reluctantly at first, David tries to communicate with Dennis by fostering his belief--but as they grow attached to each other, the administrators of the organization that put them together sees this playing along as a failure to be a proper parent and threatens to take Dennis away. The first two-thirds or so of Martian Child are marvelous; though the scenario could be saccharine, the script and performances are full of details and complexities that make it feel genuine and affecting. The last third, unfortunately, seems to be the result of studio meddling, for the themes and emotions become awkwardly overstated. But what will stay with you are the moments of refreshing honesty and tender trust from the earlier part of the movie; the ending, clumsy and tone-deaf though it is, doesn't wipe away the delicate earlier interplay of David and Dennis. Also featuring Oliver Platt (Funny Bones), Amanda Peet (Igby Goes Down), and Anjelica Huston (Prizzi's Honor). --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews

Wow, what a father-son relational movie!
THis is well done and extremely good acting. Slow in a few places where there is a need to give details but in general is fantastic. A lot of emotion in this movie about learning how to react to a child who has withdrawn emotionally into himself.
The first half is very complex and detailed which adds to the charm and honesty of a widowed, foster parent getting to know what makes his new son tick. About in the middle things go off a little bit too much maybe to an awkward point but the ending brings back all that happened up front to finish in a feel good and nice way.

Martian Child
This is a great movie. It has it's sad moments, but overall it's a "feel good" movie. I laughed, I cried, but I will watch this one over and over. After renting it the first time, I immediately went to Amazon and bought it! 5 stars!

Marvelous!!
John Cusack never ceases to amaze.... and this is a great example! Great dialogue, excellent story, a tear-jerker for sure!