The Martian Child

In what should be required viewing for every parent, Director Menno Meyjes keeps us wondering just what is pretending, and what is reality. If you ever felt like an outsider at school, you will relate to at least one of the characters in this movie. If you are a parent of such a child, this movie will touch you deeper than anything you've seen since Lorenzo's Oil.

John Cusack (Sixteen Candles, Eight Men Out, and Serendipity) breaks out of his "Brat Pack" persona and becomes a real person with real emotions. As a widower, he is properly vulnerable and lonely. He decides to consider something he and his late wife has started to do, adopt.

Relative new-comer Bobby Coleman does a fantastic job playing the little boy who claims to be from Mars. What we don't know is if he really is, ala K-Pax, or if he is pretending. You'll not find out here.

The supporting cast is very good. Joan Cusack (Working Girl, My Blue Heaven, and too many others to pick from) plays, what else, John's sister. Amanda Peet (this is the first thing she has done since her Seinfeld appearances that I really liked) plays Cusack's gardener/friend. The sexual tention is obvious, but it is only once addressed on screen, and that is perfectly timed.

The sound-track is superb and you may want to add it to your collection. It is not however constantly in your face. It comes and goes and helps tell the story with lyrics in support of the scene.

While this movie is a little on the sappy side at the end, it is not over-done, and you probably won't mind. Watch it with someone who is unique.