by Laura Orr – Actress Joan Cusack will tell you that raising children is no easy task. The mother of two has had plenty of practice.
That said, in her role as Mom in Disney’s newest animated feature, “Mars Needs Moms,” she learns a thing or two about the consequences of nagging children. The message comes in a rather unconventional form – Martians.
The true lesson, however, is for nine-year-old Milo, played by Seth Green (of “Family Guy” and Austin Powers fame), who finds himself an unintentional stowaway on a spaceship after aliens abduct his mother in order to siphon her disciplinary skills. Milo’s quest is to is to save his mom from the Martian leader aptly named The Supervisor played by a terrifying Mindy Sterling. In his crusade he’s aided by Gribble (Dan Fogler), an unexpected earthling on Mars, and Ki (Elisabeth Harnois), a disobedient Martian in a gray and dismal world of devotees to The Supervisor.
Fogler steals the show whenever he appears on screen, seemingly taking notes straight from Jack Black’s playbook. It was revealed at a press conference promoting the movie that many of the film’s funniest moments were examples of Fogler’s impressive improvisational skills.
Moms and dads will applaud Fogler, and husband and wife screenwriting team Simon and Wendy Wells (Simon also directed the film), for a generous helping of comic relief, some of which comes via references only adults will appreciate.
Produced by special effects master Robert Zemeckis, the film is the latest in a series of features utilizing motion capture technology (mocap), which has been criticized in the past after films such as “The Polar Express” and Disney’s “A Christmas Carol” were said to be lacking life or being soulless, causing audiences to disengage from the movie.
For movie-goers disappointed in the past, it’s well worth the 88 minutes to give mocap another chance. The subtle nuances of the actor’s movements and facial expressions are light years beyond what you’ve seen previously. The animation team (headed by Huck Wirtz) has delivered a product sure to wow audiences.
Green described the advancement of mocap technology as the difference between a 1985 suitcase phone and a new 4G iPhone. Diehard live action or traditional animation fans need not fear, for mocap is unlikely to take the place of either, but this film is convincing evidence that it may have found a worthwhile place alongside the old school favorites.
The 3D effects (yep, it has that going for it too) are artfully done without being overbearing, adding depth to every scene without resorting to gimmickry.
The film is being screened in select IMAX theaters as well; an investment that the technological team behind “Mars” says is worth the extra few bucks at the box office, due to a sharper image and more saturated colors.
Although the film is rated PG, much younger audiences may find it agonizing. The theme is a serious one, the action is non-stop, and at times is relentlessly tense.
For children mature enough to handle nearly 90 minutes of mom-abducting aliens determined to annihilate an innocent mother, it should be a big hit. It might just make them look at their own mommies in a different light the next time they’re asked to clean their plate.
When asked why her character didn’t have a real job, Cusack said, “being a mom is a job. It’s a lot tougher than being in a movie and a lot more important.”
Based on the children’s book of the same name by Berkeley Breathed, “Mars” is, at its core, a story about a mother’s love and her willingness to sacrifice for her child. It’s also about the beauty of being the recipient of that unconditional love… disguised as an action movie.
Mars Needs Moms opens tomorrow in 3D and IMAX 3D. ER
