Science fiction writer David (John Cusack), still grieving his wife’s death, decides to follow through on the adoption they had planned together. He meets Dennis—a troubled six-year-old orphan who believes he’s from Mars. Dennis hides in cardboard boxes to avoid sunlight (claiming it damages Martians), wears a weighted belt (because Mars has stronger gravity), refuses most foods (not available on his planet), and compulsively steals small objects (collecting Earth artifacts to take home). Rather than correcting Dennis’s “delusions,” David enters his imaginative world, connecting through science fiction and patience. The film traces their journey from wary foster placement to genuine family, as Dennis gradually allows himself to belong on Earth—and David allows himself to love again after loss.

Content Breakdown: This is one of the mildest films in the curriculum. No profanity. Violence consists only of throwing plates (not in anger) and a boy standing on a building ledge during a tense moment. No sexual content beyond one awkward kiss between adults. Minimal substance use—social drinking and one pipe briefly shown. The emotionally heavy content includes a beloved dog’s death (shown with sensitivity but genuine grief) and themes of parental death, abandonment, and a child’s history of abuse (discussed but never depicted).

Why This Film Works for Moving Away from Victim Mindset

Dennis has every reason to see himself as a victim. He’s been abandoned, abused, bounced through the foster system, and rejected by multiple families. His “Martian” identity is a survival mechanism—if he’s not really from Earth, then Earth’s rejection doesn’t really count. He’s not an unwanted child; he’s an alien observer who never belonged here anyway. The film shows how this protective story, while understandable, keeps Dennis trapped. He can’t be hurt if he’s not really here—but he also can’t be loved, can’t belong, can’t build a life.

David doesn’t attack Dennis’s Martian belief directly. Instead, he offers something the victim mindset can’t provide: genuine connection, patient presence, and a relationship worth staying on Earth for. Dennis’s transformation isn’t about being convinced he’s wrong—it’s about discovering that belonging feels better than protecting himself from rejection. The victim mindset dissolves not through argument but through experiencing something it claimed was impossible.

Characters to Discuss

• Dennis: His Martian identity protects him from pain but also from connection. What would he have to risk to admit he belongs on Earth? Why is that terrifying for a child who’s been abandoned?
• David: He’s also protecting himself—from loving again after losing his wife. How does adopting Dennis force him to move past his own form of “victim mindset” (believing he’s destined to lose everyone he loves)?
• The social worker: She’s skeptical of David’s unconventional parenting approach. Is she wrong to be concerned? When does “meeting a child where they are” become enabling?
• David’s sister (Joan Cusack): She represents the “practical” approach—just tell Dennis the truth, make him face reality. Why doesn’t this work? What does work instead?

Parent Tips for This Film

The dog’s death: This is the most emotionally intense content. The death is handled with sensitivity and becomes an important moment in Dennis’s growth—he grieves openly, perhaps for the first time allowing himself to feel loss rather than detach from it. Prepare sensitive children, but don’t skip the scene; it’s where Dennis demonstrates he’s finally connected enough to hurt.

Adoption conversations: This film is particularly valuable for adoptive families or children curious about adoption. It portrays adoption honestly—not as rescue but as mutual choice, with challenges alongside rewards. Dennis isn’t “saved” by David; they save each other.

The “Martian” metaphor: The film never definitively says whether Dennis knows he’s not really from Mars. This ambiguity is intentional. For discussion: Does it matter whether Dennis believes his own story? What’s the difference between a lie, a coping mechanism, and an imaginative framework for understanding the world?

For children who’ve experienced loss or rejection: This film may be deeply validating—Dennis’s feelings and behaviors are portrayed with compassion, not pathology. However, the themes of abandonment and grief may need processing. Watch together and pause for conversation as needed.

Based on a true story: The film is loosely adapted from a memoir by science fiction writer David Gerrold (who wrote the classic Star Trek episode “The Trouble with Tribbles”). The real adoption story differs in details but shares the emotional core. Older children might enjoy learning about the real David and his son.

Recommendation: Suggested viewing age to 10+ primarily due to emotional weight of pet death and parental loss themes. Excellent for family viewing with discussion. Particularly valuable for children processing feelings of not belonging, families navigating adoption, or anyone learning that choosing connection is braver than self-protection.