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We
now have another title to add to the mix. A film which not many people
have seen (it bombed in the US and didn't even get a screening in
Australia), a film which doesn't really hold to much weight in the
comedy/drama department, yet it is a film which is about soothing and
relaxing to watch on a cold winters day as a warm bath.
The Martian Child
follows Cusack as recently widowed Science fiction writer (yep, again
he is a writer), David Gordon who is weighing the possibility of
adopting a six-year old orphan boy named Dennis. There is only one
thing that may prevent the adoption from happening... the fact that
little Dennis
believes he is from the planet Mars and refuses to leave the safety of a carboard box.
Against
his better judgement David takes on the problematic and socially inept
Martian child. But it soon becomes apparent that Dennis has just as
much to learn as David does about being part of a family.
The movie moves at about the same pace as a snail on valium, but while most films would suffer for it, in the hands of Cusack, Martian Child
seems like a perfectly natural progression of an impossibly difficult
series of emotional hurdles for the two lead characters. Sure, he
pretty much whispers the entire movie - but that just adds to the charm
for mine.
Newcomer Bobby Coleman delivers an amazing performance
as the troubled kid, conveying an enormous sense of vulnerability and
confidence in one go. Amanda Peet sums it up perfectly when pointing
out that he is like "a mini Andy Warhol", he really is just one odd
little character.
By no means Cusack's best work, but he does a
great deal of work to stop the ending seem as cheesy as it probably
would have looked on the script - a true testament to the mans skills.
But if you are in need of a warm hearted flick which isn't to
emotionally or intellectually draining, or doesn't involve an overload
of CGI and action - then this is the flick for you.
That's
right. Cusacks delivered yet another comfortable slipper - which by no
means leaves a striking impact, but is so unbelievably welcome and
familiar.
EXTRAS
There
are a few extras here, all of which are about as strikingly impacting
as the film itself. There are the usual Deleted Scenes and Audio
Commentary.
However, the real winner here is the featurette
which takes a look at the real life "Martian Child" on which the film
is based. It's a rather touching little piece about the author of the
short story of the original idea, who wrote about his experiences
adopting a child as a single man.
Worth checking out on a lazy
Friday... or Tuesday night. Why Tuesday? Not sure, there just never
seems to be anything good to do that night.
Conclusion:
Movie 70% Extras: 60%
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