Robert Zemeckis has consistently pushed the envelope of visual effects in each project he’s worked on. From Back to the Future to Forrest Gump to his latest fixation with perfecting motion capture, Zemeckis is always at the cusp of filmmaking. Mars Needs Moms is the latest Zemeckis motion capture adventure with a meaningful, heartwarming story, all wrapped up in a neat Disney bow.
Milo (motion captured by Seth Green and voiced by Seth Dursky) is your typical kid. He doesn’t listen to his mother (Joan Cusack, perfectly cast) and gets extremely frustrated when she tells him to do things. He even goes so far as to say he’d be better off without a mother at all. Little does he know, Martians have been secretly watching his mother and praising her parenting skills. For years, Martians have scoured the Earth for the best moms so they can kidnap them and use them as a template for their nanny robots which they create to take care of their own babies.
Milo catches them in the act of abducting his mother and stows away on their ship. Teaming up with another earthling named Gribble (Dan Fogler) and a TV loving Martian named Ki, Milo finds himself in a race against time to save his mother, and along the way discovers that he needs her more than he thought.
The whole idea of the story seems preposterous, and it is. But that’s part of the charm. Mars Needs Moms is based on the book by Berkeley Breathed (of Bloom County comic strip fame) and is written for the screen and directed by Simon Wells (great grandson of H.G. Wells). The few bumpy patches at the beginning of the film are forgotten by the time the nail-biting climactic ending ensues; the story shines in the hands of Disney and Zemeckis.
Motion capture is a very cool process, but the animated actors still look a little phony; though there’s no question that the characters in the movie are the actors who play them, even the evil Martian Supervisor who’s played by Frau Farbissina herself, Mindy Sterling. But by the time Milo gets to Mars, any concerns about the animation are tossed into space. The whole thing is entirely too much fun to nitpick.
Zemeckis still has a long way to go if he wants to perfect motion capture, but Mars Needs Moms is more than just another fluffy animated movie. This is truly a fun, memorable, and moving film; I dare you not to shed a tear at the end. Silly title aside, the movie is so well written, well acted, and well conceived, it will charm the space boots off of kids and their parents.
Extras on the Blu-ray are sparing, but include:
Fun With Seth – Onset antics in the mo-cap suits, starring Seth Green and Dan Fogler. I don’t know why, but I’m personally fascinated by the mo-cap process. I love these kinds of behind the scenes. (2:28)
Martian 101 – A short featurette showing how the three main Martian actors – Elisabeth Harnois (Ki), Mindy Sterling (Supervisor), and Kevin Cahoon (Wingnut) – invented the Martian language. Really fun! (2:51)
Deleted Scenes with intro by director Simon Wells – There are seven total deleted/extended scenes, including an alternate opening. Most of these were rightfully cut from the final film. (28:31 total)
Trailers – Prom, The Lion King on Blu-ray, Winnie the Pooh, The Lion King Musical on tour, Phineas & Ferb new episodes on Disney XD, African Cats, Spooky Buddies, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
I saw Mars Needs Moms twice in theaters, once on Blu-ray and loved it every time. I’m honestly shocked that such a sweet movie has become one of the biggest box office flops of ALL TIME let alone of the year. Maybe audiences were tired of paying 3D surcharges? Maybe audiences were tired of lame children’s movies being released this Spring? Maybe its annoyance with motion capture? A combination of all of them? I have no idea. I encourage everyone with kids to give Mars Needs Moms a try and leave your personal opinions.
Walt Disney Studios presents Mars Needs Moms. Directed by: Simon Wells. Starring: Seth Green, Dan Fogler, Joan Cusack. Written by: Simon Wells, Wendy Wells, based on the book by Berkeley Breathed. Running time: 88 minutes. Rating: PG. Released on Blu-ray: August 9, 2011. Available at Amazon.com.
