Martian Child

John Cusack re-teams with child star Bobby Coleman (both were in Must Love Dogs) and director Menno Meyjes (both were involved with Max) in this film that’s overloaded with sappy “be yourself” speeches. In the adaptation of David Gerrold’s novel, Cusack plays a widower who fills the void by adopting a troubled boy who thinks he’s from Mars. While wearing a gravity belt made of batteries, speaking a supposed extra terrestrial language and tasting colors, the Martian child tries to acclimate to Earth while Cusack repeatedly preaches about individuality. The film tries too hard to be heartfelt and offers nothing that resembles dramatic conflict.