Martian Child' unoriginal family tale

Take “Big Daddy,” subtract Adam Sandler, throw in John Cusack, add a dash of science fiction and the result is “Martian Child,” Cusack’s latest movie based on the semi-autobiographical book of the same title by science fiction author David Gerrold.

Cusack and Bobby Coleman, who plays the orphan Dennis, both play their parts well as new father and son who establish a bond. Other than that, “Martian Child” follows a predictable and generic formula which causes the movie to come up short.

The movie tells the story of David, a successful science-fiction writer and widower, who adopts an orphan named Dennis. But there is something that separates Dennis from the other children: He believes he is from Mars. Part of being a martian means doing some pretty strange things. For example, Dennis wears a gravity belt made out of batteries because, without it, he would float away because Earth’s gravity is different than Mars’. The movie focuses on David’s attempts at convincing Dennis he will not abandon him, while at the same time, literally trying to break him out of his cardboard box. Another curse of being a martian causes Dennis to fear the sun and thus, he spends his days in a cardboard box.

The supporting characters in “Martian Child” play predictable parts and do not do much to advance the plot or make the movie interesting or original.

Amanda Peet plays Harlee, who was best friends with David’s deceased wife, and forms a sort of faux family with David and Dennis. She seems out of place, as if she is there to make the point that Cusack’s character is straight. Gerrold in real life is gay.

Joan Cusack plays Liz, David’s sister, who doles out advice on the difficulties and challenges of parenting based on her experiences raising two “normal” boys, suggesting at times that David has bitten off more than he can chew after adopting Dennis.

And of course, a movie about adopting a child would not be complete without the nosy social worker, in this case Mr. Lefkowitz (Richard Schiff), who just happens to poke his nose in David’s door at an inopportune time, questioning if David is best suited to raise Dennis.

“Martian Child” looks and feels like every other movie in its genre following a general formula: Parent adopts child who is an outsider, new parent and child struggle to establish a bond, a breakthrough moment occurs in which the child and parent develop an everlasting connection and go on to live happily ever after.

The film lacks originality but might benefit from the nostalgic feelings of family, which are present throughout the holiday season. “Martian Child” opens in theaters Nov. 2.

David McNeely can be reached at [email protected].