Kids are from Mars, Dads are from Earth

Taglines on movie posters/marketing campaigns aren't always that helpful, but in the case of The Martian Child, the tagline's right on: "The story of a man becoming a father...and a boy becoming a son."

John Cusack stars as David Gordon, a widower and Sci-Fi novelist who decides to finish what he and his wife started two years prior to her death: adopt a child. He's matched up with a six year old who's convinced he's from Mars, sent to earth to study what it means to be human. Bobby Coleman plays the boy, and gives what's probably the best child-performance since Cole Sear saw dead people--he's been abandoned, emotionally abused, socially awkward, and totally unsure of himself.

Amanda Peet erases whatever karmic debt she owed the Hollywood pantheon for Studio 60 playing Gordon's wife's lifelong friend--likely Peet's most fully human character to date. Oliver Platt is effective as Gordon's agent (tho' underused, like he is in 97.8% of whatever he appears in), Richard Schiff delivers as the social worker in charge of the case, and Joan Cusack somehow pulls off portraying Gordon's older sister.

The plot is fairly obvious and predictable, but it's supposed to be. This isn't one of those stories that's supposed to sneak up on you and rattle your bars. A simple, straightforward and heartfelt plotline.

Not that this has anything to do with the movie, but coincidentally enough, during the climactic scene the pollen count the house reached astronomical levels--thankfully that count returned to normal while the credits scrolled by.

I should note that while this is a PG movie (yes, they do still make those, I'm as surprised as anyone), I'm not sure it's a movie for kids. Just don't think they'd get into it--which is okay. It's a movie for grown-ups.

This is possibly the sweetest movie I've seen in years--if not ever. Definitely worth the time and money (or spot on the rental queue)