The 'Polar Express'-style CG-meets-live-action visuals are creepy and flat, the characters are largely nonexistent and the story takes so many short cuts that it becomes meaningless...
Mars Needs Moms
Mom needs a little space.
2011 · 1h 28m · PG
Adventure, Animation, Family
Directed by
Simon Wells
Overview
When Martians suddenly abduct his mom, mischievous Milo rushes to the rescue and discovers why all moms are so special.
Director and cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
The film looks neither fully real nor fully imagined, which could be forgiven if Mars Needs Moms had something more to offer besides its nifty technology.
They took a small story, made it complicated and burdensome, filmed some actors performing it, turned those actors into affectless, mechanical cartoons, converted it to 3-D, and dropped it in theaters. Wheeee!
So, okay, men are completely irresponsible slobs, which is why women need to be unceasing nags. Check. Great message for the kids.
This is just a big rollercoaster of a movie, filled with dazzling effects and funny creatures and the requisite five-hankie "I love you, Mom" ending. But then, there are some weird gender political battles at play here.
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