i think this movie is so inapropreit it is unbeveable
Martian Child
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Is it age appropriate?
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Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
Sweet kid-friendly drama has some mature themes.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 10 and Up
The good stuff
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of Martian Child was written by S. Jhoanna Robledo
Parents need to know that although there's very little in the way of language, sex, and violence in this well-acted family drama, it does deal with some serious themes -- including death (of both humans and pets) and abandonment -- that are on the heavy side for young viewers, who may need guidance understanding what they see. Parents are shown discussing their frustrations with their kids and yelling at them, and kids are shown cruelly teasing a main character and calling him "weird." Some social drinking, but only among adults.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about being different. Can standing out from the crowd really make you feel like you're from another planet? Kids: Have you ever felt that way? How did you handle it? Is it easier to be more like your peers? Why or why not? How can you stay proud of your individuality if other kids single you out for being different? Families can also discuss why parents and children are often shown at odds in movies. Are they really all that different? In what ways? Why does this subject make great fodder for Hollywood?
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More on Martian Child
What’s the Story?
Kids are from Mars, and parents are from, well, Venus. That's the premise behind MARTIAN CHILD, director Menno Meyjes' film based on David Gerrold's novella. The dramedy follows what happens when successful sci-fi writer David Gordon (John Cusack), still reeling two years after his wife's death, adopts a troubled boy named Dennis (a heart-tugging Bobby Coleman). Abandoned by his parents, Dennis is far more distressed than his peers. He speaks his own language, hangs upside down, eats only Lucky Charms, lives in a box most of the time for fear of the sun (David earns his trust by supplying him with loads of sunblock and, later, sharing baseball tips), and steals from nearly everyone. Oh, and he claims he's from Mars. Soon, David's relying on his sister, Liz (Joan Cusack), and his wife's best friend, Harlee (Amanda Peet), for advice, wondering if he's in way over his head.
Is It Any Good?
Part About a Boy and part E.T., Martian Child attempts to maintain a sense of mystery by suggesting that Dennis could perhaps be actually from Mars. (He makes wishes that appear to come true.) Intriguing as this may be, it's a distraction from the film's more interesting questions: Is parenting worth the trouble? Do we expect too much from children? And are we all just separate planets in a massive universe that need to converge to save ourselves from extinction?
Director Meyjes' film boasts impressively strong performances but is hampered by a bipolar script that bounces from touching to treacly and back again and dialogue that's sometimes way too obvious. "Just be yourself," David constantly tells Dennis when, in reality, he expects his son to fall in line with the new world order. A psychiatrist character seems more of a caricature than the smart, empathetic shrink you'd think would make decisions about adoption. And one ultra-dramatic scene two-thirds of the way through the film feels contrived, as if it's placed there to force a moment of connection between David and Dennis. Still, could there be a more naturalistic actor than John Cusack? He's been in a few duds lately, and although Martian Child is no Say Anything, it's certainly a step in the right direction.
Movie Details
Studio: New Line Cinema, Director: Menno Meyjes
Run time: 106 minutes
Theatrical release: 11/01/2007, DVD release: 02/11/2008
MPAA Rating: PG for thematic elements and mild language.
Run time: 106 minutes
Theatrical release: 11/01/2007, DVD release: 02/11/2008
MPAA Rating: PG for thematic elements and mild language.
Our Members Say
See all 15 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
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I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
- Inappropriate language
- Excessive consumerism
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
- Negative role models
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I rate this title on for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- My highlights are:
Cute Movie
It was cute, except for the doggeh T^T I never got to see teh ending though ^^
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I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
A little heavy...
This movie was good but really depressing. There was a scene that really disturbed me because it showed a dead dog.
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I rate this title on for age 9 and give it
good but sad
i watched this a while ago and i cried when the dog died it was so sad! But its good and its okay to watch with kids over 9. The end always gets to me, to!
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
!This movie is so precious!
There should be more movies like this. Even my little sisters liked it, and they hardly ever watch movies that aren't animated or Disney. SEE THIS MOVIE!
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
A great family film
This was a surprise treat--I had watched it and enjoyedit a few months ago, but did not expect my kids, ages 8,10 & 12 to enjoy it as much as they did. They loved seeing a parent struggle with a challenging child, and how much Cusack's character clearly wanted to do the right thing, if he could just figure out what that was. My daughter (10) who has recently been bugging me to let her watch PG-13 romances, which we then find have some seriously older bits in them, said "This was the best movie I've ever seen."
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I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
loved it loved it loved it!
this is a really sweet movie, there is no swearing, sex, or violence, and has a really sweet ending!
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
the whole family really liked it! kids ages 13-3
We are a Christian family that watches what our kids see and this was really one of those movies that we could all sit and watch together and talk about what was happening even the baby asked questions this time and noticed things it was a great film..thanks!!
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I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it
allright
I found the content disturbing
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
Simply loved it....yes, I cried!
I too my 9 year old and 5 year old. The older and I loved it. Very sweet sweet sweet movie. And was based on a true story....surprised me! My 5 year old didn't say she wanted to leave, but I am sure she wouldn't care to see it again. This is not really a kid movie but completely acceptable for them to watch. I can't remember any bad words, but it might have had something that is in most PG movies. Shrek is PG too!! The closest thing to anything sexual was a brief and appropriate kiss.
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I rate this title on for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
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I rate this title off for age 0 and give it
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