Review of Martian Child (2007) by Walter M — 26 Sep 2008

[font=Century Gothic]"Martian Child" is a troubling and sentimental movie about David Gordon(John Cusack), a science fiction writer with writer's block. Four years after the death of his wife, he decides to adopt a child.(They had long talked about doing this together.) After being introduced to Dennis(Bobby Coleman), a seven-year old who spends most of his time in a box because he is afraid of the sun, he has second thoughts. But then since he remembers he was once a strange kid himself, David decides to try and connect with him. In time, he learns that Dennis thinks he is really from Mars...[/font].

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[font=Century Gothic]"Martian Child" sugarcoats the darker side of the story. For example, it is briefly mentioned that Dennis was emotionally abused but this is never brought up again. And no matter how much David may think so, there are significant differences between the boy he was and the boy Dennis is. David was a dreamer which is okay but Dennis suffers from delusions(although since this is a movie, you never know...), making him somebody who needs a lot more help than David can provide who at his best would probably not make a great father. And I want to point out that I am not attacking single parenthood in general, just this one.[/font].