MARTIAN CHILD

MARTIAN CHILD NEEDS TO GO BACK TO SPACE "I don't want to bring another kid into this world. But how do you argue against loving one that's already here?" This story is based on the scriptwriter's real life experience with adopting a child. I wanted to like this movie. I adore John Cusack; alas, my love just wasn't strong enough. The premise is good and pure. David (Cusack) recently widowed, decides to do something good with his life. He adopts a child (Bobby Coleman) who claims to be from Mars. I didn't buy it. There was Cusack being Cusack and then a first-timer, Coleman, who I didn't believe. The setup is too neat, clean and predictable. Every effort was used in attempt to cry. Toward the middle-end of the movie I did shed a tear and for those few moments Cusak was David. The messages are trite; 'be yourself', there is no 'normal', parents aren't perfect. Good messages, but expressed too precisely. Amanda Peet and Joan Cusack filled their roles well. I wanted this movie to be magical and semi-believable and it just wasn't.

NOT a pick: K-PAX did a better job with the same idea. I just didn't feel it.