Martian Child (PG, 2007)

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.

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.

Studio: New Line
Director: Menno Meyjes
Cast: Amanda Peet, Bobby Coleman, John Cusack
Genre: Drama
Run time: 106 minutes
Theatrical release: November 1, 2007
DVD release: February 11, 2008
MPAA Rating: PG
MPAA explanation: thematic elements and mild language.