Martian Child (2007)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Menno Meyjes

Writers (WGA):

Seth Bass (screenplay) &
Jonathan Tolins (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

2 November 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family

Tagline:

The story of a man becoming a father...and a boy becoming a son.

Plot:

A science-fiction writer, recently widowed, considers whether to adopt a hyper-imaginative 6-year-old abandoned and socially rejected boy who says he's really from Mars.

Plot Keywords:

Mars | Friend | Best Friend | Writer | Sunlight

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

John Cusack	...	David Gordon
Bobby Coleman	...	Dennis / The Martian Child
Amanda Peet	...	Harlee
Sophie Okonedo	...	Sophie
Joan Cusack	...	Liz
Oliver Platt	...	Jeff
Bud	...	Somewhere / Flomar
Richard Schiff	...	Mr. Lefkowitz
Taya Calicetto	...	Esther
David Kaye	...	Andy
Braxton Bonneville	...	Nicholas
Samuel Charles	...	Jonas
Zak Ludwig	...	Young David
Samuel Patrick Chu	...	Boy at Group Home
Ryan Morrissette	...	Boy at Group Home

MPAA:

Rated PG ror thematic elements and mild language (theatrical); for thematic elements. (video)

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Germany:6 | Canada:G (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:PG (certificate #42287) | South Africa:PG | South Korea:All | USA:PG | Malaysia:U | Finland:K-7 | Singapore:PG | Argentina:Atp | Taiwan:GP | Australia:M | Australia:PG (DVD rating) | New Zealand:PG | Netherlands:6

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

An early novel by screenwriter David Gerrold was called "When H.A.R.L.I.E. was One." Amanda Peet plays a character named Harlee.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: When David is leaving the media event for his new book, the name of the gallery - Elliott Louis Gallery - is visible. This is an art gallery in Vancouver, Canada.

Quotes:

David: That's a good question, which is usually what adults say if they don't know the answer.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2007-11-03)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Satellite

A good story about fitting in within yourself

I was able to catch this film during a sneak preview a few weeks back. I really had no idea what the film would be about given I hadn't seen many trailers and only knew elements of the story from the synopsis I read of it on Rotten Tomatoes. So I went in with a pretty clean slate.

The film jumps right into things and doesn't really take a lot of pit stops. It charges forward with the story and I think that is the thing I appreciated the most about it. We are not weighted down with too much subplot and extraneous emotional scenes. We are given exactly what we need to form a connection with all the characters.

The film is changed some from the book that it is based on. Mainly that the lead character played by John Cusack is a widower rather than homosexual. In the end, it really doesn't matter the sexuality of the Cusack character, the connection he creates with his son is fantastic to watch develop. They are the same, though different in that one is grounded in reality and the other up in Mars some where. Both are individuals in a world that doesn't want different, the want everyone to do exactly as they are expected to.

Loved the film, will be a definite purchase come DVD time.