Martian Child | John Cusack, Amanda Peet | Greatest Thing in the Universe

Martian Child | John Cusack, Amanda Peet | A Cute Movie

DVDs:

Martian Child

	Martian Child John Cusack, Amanda Peet New Line Cinema, 2008 average customer review:based on 65 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Greatest Thing in the Universe

"Martian Child" was a film that I saw in the theatre and wanted to own. The film's director, Menno Meyjes, was previously nominated for an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for "The Color Purple" in 1985 & worked with John Cusak in his first film as a director, "Max" in 2002. He keeps the interest and pacing of the film throughout.

Having lost my wife (a year & a half ago) and now being a single dad, the part of the film where Cusak's David grieves over his wife affected me. Whether those were glycerin tears or real ones, that scene where Cusak looks at his wife's picture and starts to cry makes me reach for a tissue. It mirrors my living room about three times a day. Cusak is adept at these light comic roles, which may not win him a Oscar, but which he does expertly and makes me want to see his work. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for "High Fidelity" in 2002.

Bobby Coleman who worked with Cusak in 2005's Must Love Dogs (Widescreen Edition) does a good job as the weird little kid. Coleman underplays the character, but it worked for me on film and made my heart go out to him. The unusual dance that he & Cusak perform is so utterly bizarre that it makes me smile.

The supporting players are strong. Joan Cusak plays (SURPRISE!) her real-life brother John Cusak's sister! She was twice nominated for Oscars for "Working Girl" in 1988 & "In & Out" in 1997. Amanda Peet who was in The Ex (Unrated Widescreen Edition) plays Harlee who may become David's steady girl. The kiss they share would certainly make one believe so. Sophie Okonedo who was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress for "Hotel Rwanda" and did such a great job as the lady of the evening in Dirty Pretty Things plays the child care worker who encourages David to connect with Dennis. Oliver Platt plays the agent Jeff who worked with Cusak in The Ice Harvest (Widescreen Edition). Richard Schiff from TV's "West Wing" and the great 2001 film I am Sam (New Line Platinum Series) does an excellent job as the caring social worker. Angelica Huston has a cameo as the book publisher Mimi and plays it well. I found "Martian Child" to be a stunning film that affirms that love is the greatest thing in the universe. Bravo!

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A Cute Movie

This is definitely a movie that would be good for a Family Night. It has some cute moments and is overall a good and heartwarming story, but it also isn't anything that you'll really remember as being exceptional.

The premise is a simple but inventive one. A successful science-fiction writer (played by John Cusack) adopts a child who pretends, and has actually come to believe, that he is from Mars. The core of this movie is the interaction between these two, but it goes on to pose deeper questions about children's imaginations and how far parent's should let 'games of pretend' and individuality go.

Overall, it's a solid movie with a good cast and a fair script that won't leave you enlightened or disappointed. It's probably not something worth buying on DVD, but it's at least worthy of an on-demand rental.

6/10

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