The Martian Child

Three things sold me on this movie. 1. John Cusack 2. The trailer 3. The concept.

I typically like whatever John Cusack is in, and I saw the trailer for this when I saw another movie, not sure which one. The concept is the real seller for me though, a science fiction writer adopts a kid who thinks he's from Mars. The kid is great in this movie. Played by Bobby Coleman, Dennis isn't just playground weird. Never in this movie is the audience expected to believe that Dennis hasn't been through some traumatic stuff, and yet he's not just some tragic sympathetic character, he's an intrepid scientist, an explorer from another planet, a smart kid who devised an incredibly complex and ingenious coping mechanism. He seems heroic in a way, light years ahead of the adults around him in some ways, woefully unprepared for the world in others. Pair him with a sci fi writer somewhat out of his element as a parent but completely in his element when dealing with Martians and other creatures, and it's magic. Yes, it's Hollywood magic. But so what. I don't care. I love the way the story unfolds, the way Dennis negotiates Earth, the way Cusack's character, David, negotiates single fatherhood, the parallels of both of them grieving something. A good movie, beautifully shot...I enjoyed all but the scenes with Angelica Houston and Oliver Platt, which surprised me because I typically like both of them...but in this movie...they were too much...too dramatic and cartoonish.

Hurray for three movies in a row that I have enjoyed.