'Martian Child' a comedy-drama of little worlds colliding

By: DAN BENNETT - Staff Writer | Wednesday, October 31, 2007 12:34 PM PDT ∞

It's a strange world these days, so it's not surprising the little guy in "Martian Child" insists he's from Mars. Everybody needs to be from somewhere.

Whether the boy's geography is accurate, or whether he simply needs to be from Mars to avoid the realities of his life, becomes the crucial question in this comedy-drama.

John Cusack plays David, a successful science-fiction writer dealing with the death of his wife. His life is sad and his book deadline looms, but David spends much of his time deciding if he should adopt a child. He becomes particularly intrigued by Dennis, a boy who hides underneath a large cardboard box. Dennis (Bobby Coleman) insists he must avoid the sun's harsh rays, as he is a Martian.

Intrigued by the boy's claims ---- in part because David invented his own fantasy worlds to escape childhood troubles ---- David reluctantly agrees to adopt the child, though it's clear nobody is forcing him. Dennis moves in with his new adoptive father, who gives the boy much leeway, allowing the child to make his claims of Martian citizenship.

Helping David is a longtime family friend (Amanda Peet), who encourages David's patience. Issuing warnings is David's loving but wary sister (Joan Cusack). Encouraging David to finish his book, and fast, is his worried agent (Oliver Platt).

What David discovers as the weeks go on is that he has little interest in writing the violent sci-fi novel his fans clamor for, but instead begins writing a diary of his experiences raising a boy who says he's from Mars. The time David spends with Dennis requires patience and tolerance, and slowly the two form a bond, though inevitably the pains of the boy's past ---- the reasons he says he's from Mars ---- will make an appearance in some harsh, truthful way. Whether David and Dennis can survive that emotional trauma is a test of their growing reliance on each other.

"Martian Child" is a by-the-book story, alternating from comedy to serious drama with relative ease. If never fully captivating, the film is both playful and earnest, intertwining comic, music video-styled collages with more intense dramatic scenes. "Martian Child" is marketed as a family film, and it doesn't always feel that way, though mature older children might become immersed in the story.

Good lessons and intentions abound, though, and there is some entertainment value and emotional impact within.

B-

"Martian Child"

Starring: John Cusack, Bobby Coleman, Amanda Peet, Joan Cusack

Director: Menno Meyjes

Studio: New Line Cinema

Rated: PG (thematic elements and mild language)

RT: 99 minutes