Martian Child
John Cusack has that instant likability where, much like Buster Keaton, his very presence at the center of the action holds our attention, and earns our admiration. Over the years in films like “Say Anything,” “Grosse Pointe Blank,” “Must Love Dogs,” and in particular “High Fidelity,” he’s become- for me- the embodiment onscreen of male romantic angst, a hopeless romantic who has to trudge through real-life emotional and physical issues in order to get the woman he loves. Of course, the fact that even in a mindless action film like “Con Air” he also projects real intelligence is part of his appeal- why he isn’t a bigger star is, quite frankly, surprising to me.
Unfortunately, I don’t think “Martian Child” is a movie to get him closer to that stature. It’s hardly an embarrassment for the actor- he gives another warm and endearing performance, and it’s a well-made film- but it’s trying a little too hard to get the audience to cry. (Although I’ll admit to doing so- somethings still get me.) In the film he plays David Gordon, a sci-fi author whose wife passed away two years ago and latest book is a best-seller (being turned into a movie, no less). He’s stuck writing the sequel to his book when he gets a call for a social worker about adopting a young boy. He’d put his name down with his wife before she passed away, and the worker feels that, despite her passing, she’s found a match for David in young Dennis (Bobby Campbell). Dennis is a sweet enough kid, but he comes with a bit of baggage. For one thing, the first time we see Dennis, well, we can’t really see him because he’s hiding in a cardboard box. For another thing, he claims to be from Mars. He’s also got a penchant for stealing, but the Mars thing is the biggest issue keeping Dennis from being able to assimilate in society.
If you’ve seen the previews, or even just read this last paragraph, it’s probably not that hard to see where this is going (and if not, don’t worry; the score by Aaron Zigman is more than happy to give you a roadmap). But you follow with it, and allow yourself to hope for the corniest. The reason is simple- the actors make you hope for it. Cusack continues a strong year (after his horror success in “1408,” preceeding his upcoming drama “Grace is Gone” (just by looking at the preview, don’t be surprised of Oscar talk for him)), finding the heart and hurt in a widower who’s as new to fatherhood as Dennis claims to be at being human, and his chemistry with young Campbell (who is Cusack’s equal in his odd, affecting performance) makes them the perfect match for one another. Add to that Joan Cusack as John’s worried, but ultimately supportive, sister and mother of two as Amanda Peet as his late wife’s friend- who likes the risk David’s taking in getting on with his life and making a connection- and you forget about a lot of the pitfalls the film takes into sentimental melodrama. There are quite a few, but in the end, you’re like David, who can’t say no to this “martian child.”
