Edit filter log

'{{short description|2011 film by Simon Wells}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}} {{Infobox film | name = Mars Needs Moms | image = Mars Needs Moms! Poster.jpg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = [[Simon Wells]] | screenplay = {{Plainlist| * Simon Wells * Wendy Wells }} | based on = {{Based on|''Mars Needs Moms!''|[[Berkeley Breathed]]}} | producer = {{Unbulleted list|[[Robert Zemeckis]]|[[Jack Rapke]]|[[Steve Starkey]]|Steven Boyd}} | starring = {{Plainlist| * [[Seth Green]] * [[Dan Fogler]] * [[Elisabeth Harnois]] * [[Mindy Sterling]] * [[Joan Cusack]] }} | music = [[John Powell (composer)|John Powell]] | cinematography = Robert Presley | editing = Wayne Wahrman | studio = [[Walt Disney Pictures]]<br />[[ImageMovers Digital]] | distributor = [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Walt Disney Studios<br>Motion Pictures]] | released = {{Film date|2011|3|11}} | runtime = 88 minutes<ref name="mojo" /> | country = United States | language = English | budget = $150 million<ref name="mojo" /><ref name="LABox" /> | gross = $39 million<ref name="mojo" /> }} '''''Mars Needs Moms''''' is a 2011 American [[3D film|3D]] [[Computer animation|computer-animated]] [[science fiction]] [[adventure film]] based on the [[Berkeley Breathed]] book of the same title. The film is centered on Milo, a nine-year-old boy who, after being grounded, finally comes to understand the importance of family, and has to rescue his mother after she is abducted by Martians. It was co-written and directed by [[Simon Wells]]. It premiered on March 6, 2011 and was released to theaters on March 11, 2011 by [[Walt Disney Pictures]].<ref>{{cite news | first=Andrew | last=Stewart | date=March 9, 2010 | title=Disney sets date for 'Mars' | work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | url=http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118016278 | accessdate=March 10, 2010 }}</ref> The film stars both [[Seth Green]] ([[motion capture]]) and newcomer Seth Dusky (voice) as Milo. This was the last film by [[ImageMovers#Disney/ImageMovers Digital (2007–2010)|ImageMovers Digital]] before it was absorbed back into [[ImageMovers]].<ref name="deadline">{{cite news | first=Nikki | last=Finke | url=https://deadline.com/2010/03/disney-closing-zemeckis-digital-studio-in-2011-28214/ | title=Disney Closing Zemeckis' Digital Studio | website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] | date=March 12, 2010 | accessdate=June 7, 2018}}</ref> The film receive mixed reviews from critics, <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/mars-needs-moms|title=Mars Needs Moms Reviews|work=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref> and grossed $39 million worldwide on a $150 million budget, making it a [[box-office bomb]]. ==Plot== <!-- Per [[WP:FILMPLOT]], plot summaries should be between 400-700 words --> Unbeknownst to humans, there is a thriving, technologically sophisticated society of [[Martians]] living below the surface of [[Mars]]. The Martians' Supervisor, while observing Earth, sees a mother persuading her son, Milo, to do his chores. The Martians decide to bring her to Mars, where her "momness" will be extracted and implanted into the next generation of nannybots. Meanwhile, Milo - who doesn't like following the house rules and doing chores and has been grounded because he fed broccoli to the cat - tells his mother sarcastically that his life would be better without her around. Later that night, Milo goes to apologize, but discovers his mom is being abducted. He runs after her, but they end up in separate parts of the Martian spaceship. On Mars, Milo is taken to an underground cell. He escapes and is chased by Martian guards, but he follows a voice that tells him to jump down a chute, and lands in a lower subterranean level. There, he sees a trash-covered landscape that is inhabited by furry creatures. Milo is whisked away by the creatures to meet Gribble, a.k.a. George Ribble, the childlike adult human who had told him to jump down the chute. Gribble explains to Milo that the Martians plan to extract Milo's mom's memories at sunrise, using a process that will kill her. Gribble, who is lonely and doesn't want Milo to leave, pretends to help Milo rescue his mother. His plan goes awry, leading to Gribble being captured and Milo being pursued by Martian guards. Milo is rescued by Ki, one of the supervisors who raise Martian babies. Milo tells her about his search for his Mom and what a human relationship with a mom is like, as Ki and her kin were mentored by only nannybots and supervisors and don't know of love. Milo returns to Gribble's home but finds him missing. Gribble's robotic spider, Two-Cat, takes Milo to the Martian compound where Gribble is being prepared for execution. Milo is captured by the guards, but Ki tosses him a laser gun, allowing him to escape. Milo and Gribble retreat to an even lower uninhabited level, where Gribble describes his own mom's abduction and murder by the Martians 20 years ago. Gribble blames himself for her being chosen, and regrets that he hadn't been able to save her. Milo convinces Gribble to actually help him just as Ki finds them. They discover an ancient mural of a Martian family and realize that Martian children weren't always raised by machines. Gribble explains that Martian female babies are currently raised by nannybots in the technologically advanced society, while the male babies are sent down below to be raised by adult male Martians, which are the furry creatures he encountered earlier. Milo, Gribble, and Ki save Milo's mom just before sunrise, causing the energy of the extraction device to short out the electronic locks to the control room. This lets the adult males and babies enter, where they run amok, attacking the guards and robots. Milo and his mom steal oxygen helmets and try to escape across the Martian surface, but the Supervisor, while attempting to kill them, causes Milo to trip and his helmet shatters. His mom gives him her own helmet, saving Milo but sacrificing herself. The Martians are awed, as this is the first time they have seen love. Gribble finds his own mother's helmet, and gives it Milo's mom, saving her. Ki brings a ship for them to escape in, but the Supervisor intervenes. Ki argues that Martians were meant to be raised in families, with love, but the Supervisor insists that the current situation is better, because, to her, it is more efficient. The guards realize the Supervisor's cruel nature and decide to arrest the Supervisor because they now prefer the loving vision of family life. The other Martians celebrate. Milo, his mom, Gribble, Ki, and Two-Cat travel back to Earth and Milo apologizes to his mother. Gribble decides not to stay, because he wants to pursue a relationship with Ki on Mars. Milo and his mom return to their house just before Milo's dad comes home. ==Cast== * [[Seth Green]] (motion capture) and Seth Dusky (voice) as Milo : Green described doing the motion-capture as physically demanding work: "A lot of running, jumping, falling, hitting, spinning. I wore a harness for, like, 85 percent of the movie. It was uncomfortable."<ref name = "Movieguide">{{cite web|url=https://www.movieguide.org/news-articles/behind-the-scenes-of-mars-needs-moms.html|last=Snyder|first=Tom|title=Behinds the Scenes of MARS NEEDS MOMS|website=[[Movieguide]]|accessdate=December 9, 2019}}</ref> After spending six weeks outfitted in a special sensor-equipped [[performance-capture]] suit while simultaneously performing Milo's lines, [[Seth Green]]'s voice sounded too mature for the character and was dubbed over by that of 12-year-old actor Seth R. Dusky.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kaufman|first=Amy|title=Seth Green moves, but doesn't speak, in 'Mars Needs Moms'|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2011/03/seth-green-mars-needs-moms.html|accessdate=May 23, 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=March 8, 2011}}</ref> * [[Dan Fogler]] as George "Gribble" Ribble * [[Elisabeth Harnois]] as Ki * [[Mindy Sterling]] as The Supervisor * [[Joan Cusack]] as Milo's mother * [[Kevin Cahoon]] as Wingnut : For the auditions, Cahoon performed two scenes, including the ending; he recalled the instructions saying, "create your Martian language and play the scene."<ref name = "Cahoonint">{{cite web|date=March 8, 2011|last=Cortez|first=Carl|url=https://www.assignmentx.com/2011/exclusive-interview-mars-needs-moms-actor-kevin-cahoon-gets-a-kick-out-playing-a-sidekick/|title=Exclusive Interview: MARS NEEDS MOMS actor Kevin Cahoon gets a kick out playing a sidekick|website=Assignment X|accessdate=December 9, 2019}}</ref> He previously played [[List of The Lion King characters#Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed|Ed]], another non-speaking role, in the [[The Lion King (musical)|Broadway musical version]] of ''[[The Lion King]]'' (1994): "it's almost like silent film. You have speak with your heart and soul and face, and you have to act as if you have dialogue with everyone else. I think that's where you find the humanity, or the martiananity, of the character."<ref name = "Cahoonint"/> Cahoon's mannerisms were also used for the other martians.<ref name = "Cahoonint"/> ''Mars Needs Moms'' is Cahoon's first time collaborating with Dan Folger since the two worked with each other in New York stage theater.<ref name = "Cahoonint"/> As he described his opinion on the film, "I was blown away. It's beautiful. The technology is incredible and the IMAX is awesome. I was so impressed with the score, but also the heart. I got misty-eyes towards the end with the mom/Milo relationship. I thought it really connected in a wonderful way and am so honored to be a part of it."<ref name = "Cahoonint"/> * [[Tom Everett Scott]] as Milo's father * [[Ryan Ochoa|Ryan]], Robert Ochoa and [[Raymond Ochoa]] as Martian Hatchlings ==Production== Simon Wells had known Zemeckis since the mid-1980s when he was supervising animator and [[storyboard artist]] for ''[[Who Framed Roger Rabbit]]''. He also worked on ''[[Back to the Future Part II]]'' and ''[[Back to the Future Part III|III]]'' and later worked on ''[[The Polar Express (film)|The Polar Express]]'', which was why he was attracted to making ''Mars Needs Moms.''<ref>{{cite web | url=http://twitchfilm.com/interviews/2011/08/interview-mars-needs-moms-directorwriter-simon-wells.php | title=Interview: MARS NEEDS MOMS Director/Writer Simon Wells | publisher=[[Twitch Film]] | date=August 9, 2011 | accessdate=February 25, 2012 | last=Webb | first=Charles | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111183015/http://twitchfilm.com/interviews/2011/08/interview-mars-needs-moms-directorwriter-simon-wells.php | archive-date=November 11, 2011 | url-status=dead }}</ref> The production designer was [[Doug Chiang]], and the supervising art director was Norm Newberry.<ref name=VarietyReview>{{cite news|last1=Loewenstein|first1=Lael|title=Review: 'Mars Needs Moms'|url=https://variety.com/2011/digital/reviews/mars-needs-moms-1117944786/|accessdate=September 25, 2014|work=Variety|date=March 8, 2011}}</ref> The title of the film is a twist on the title of [[American International Pictures]]' 1966 film ''[[Mars Needs Women]]''. The makers came up with their own alien language.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.cinemareview.com/production.asp?prodid=6327 | title=Mars Needs Moms - Productions Notes | publisher=Cinemareview.com | accessdate=February 24, 2012}}</ref> In developing the language, all of the actors spent a day where they recorded different interpretations of a list of words; the producers picked their favorite interpretations from that recording and put them in a book documenting the fictional language for the actors to speak.<ref name = "Cahoonint"/> [[Elisabeth Harnois]] stated in an interview that she and the cast were given scenarios by Wells to which they acted out responses in improvised Martian language.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/mars-needs-moms/interview-elisabeth-harnois | title=Mars Needs Moms Interview - Elisabeth Harnois | publisher=Trailer Addict | accessdate=February 24, 2012| date=March 5, 2011 }}</ref> ==Release== ''Mars Needs Moms'' was released in theaters on March 11, 2011. ===Home media=== The film was released on [[Blu-ray]], [[Blu-ray 3D]], DVD, and movie download on August 9, 2011.<ref name="The HD Room">{{cite news|title=Mars Needs Moms Blu-ray 3D Release Date and Pre-Orders|url=http://www.thehdroom.com/news/Mars-Needs-Moms-Blu-ray-3D-Release-Date-and-Pre-Orders/8936|accessdate=May 6, 2011|newspaper=The HD Room|date=May 6, 2011}}</ref><ref name=MovieWeb /><ref name=Blu-ray.com>{{cite news|title=Mars Needs Moms 2D and 3D Blu-rays|url=http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=6346|accessdate=May 8, 2011|newspaper=Blu-ray.com|date=May 6, 2011}}</ref> The release is produced in three different physical packages: a four-disc combo pack (Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, DVD, and "Digital Copy"); a two-disc Blu-ray combo pack (Blu-ray and DVD); and a single-disc DVD.<ref name=MovieWeb>{{cite news|last=Gallagher|first=Brian|title=Mars Needs Moms 3D Blu-ray, Blu-ray, and DVD Arrive August 9th|url=http://www.movieweb.com/news/mars-needs-moms-3d-blu-ray-blu-ray-and-dvd-arrive-august-9th|accessdate=May 8, 2011|newspaper=MovieWeb|date=May 6, 2011}}</ref><ref name=Blu-ray.com /><ref name="Blu-ray Definition">{{cite news|last=DuHamel|first=Brandon|title=Mars Needs Moms Travels to Blu-ray, 3D and DVD in August|url=http://www.blu-raydefinition.com/news/mars-needs-moms-travels-to-blu-ray-3d-and-dvd-in-august.html|accessdate=May 8, 2011|newspaper=Blu-ray Definition|date=May 7, 2011}}</ref> The "Digital Copy" included with the four-disc combo pack is a separate disc that allows users to download a copy of the film onto a computer through [[iTunes]] or [[Windows Media Player]] software.<ref name=MovieWeb /><ref name=Blu-ray.com /> The film is also a movie download or On-Demand option. All versions of the release (except for the On-Demand option) include the "Fun With Seth" and "Martian 101" bonus features, while the Blu-ray 2D version additionally includes deleted scenes, the "Life On Mars: The Full Motion-Capture Experience" feature, and an extended opening film clip.<ref name=MovieWeb /><ref name=Blu-ray.com /> The Blu-ray 3D version also has an alternate scene called "Mom-Napping", a finished 3D alternate scene of the Martian abduction of Milo's mom.<ref name=MovieWeb /><ref name=Blu-ray.com /><ref name="Stitch Kingdom">{{cite news|title='Mars Needs Moms' Lands on Disney 3D Blu-ray/DVD on August 9; Includes 3D Exclusive Bonus Scene|url=http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disney-news/movies/mars-moms-lands-disney-3d-bluraydvd-august-9-includes-3d-exclusive-bonus-scene/|accessdate=May 8, 2011|newspaper=Stitch Kingdom|date=May 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613042601/http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disney-news/movies/mars-moms-lands-disney-3d-bluraydvd-august-9-includes-3d-exclusive-bonus-scene/|archive-date=June 13, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> ==Reception== === Critical response === {{Expand section|reason=with reviews from critics|date=October 2019}} On [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an approval rating of 37% based on 114 reviews and an average rating of 5.02/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "The cast is solid and it's visually well-crafted, but ''Mars Needs Moms'' suffers from a lack of imagination and heart."<ref>{{cite web|title=Mars Needs Moms (2011)|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mars_needs_moms|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a score of 49 out of 100 based on 22 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/mars-needs-moms|title=Mars Needs Moms Reviews|work=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale.<ref name="CinemaScore">{{cite web |url= https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |title= Cinemascore |work= [[CinemaScore]] |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181220122629/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |archive-date= December 20, 2018 }}</ref> ''[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]'' labeled the motion-capture animation superior to ''[[Avatar (2009 film)|Avatar]]'' (2009), and while noting the story had "pure Disney cheese," Wells "thankfully know[s] precisely when to inject action and humour when the mush-o-meter approaches the red."<ref name = "SydneyMorning">{{cite web|last=Schembri|first=Jim|date=April 13, 2011|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/movies/mars-needs-moms-20110413-1ddzf.html|title=Mars Needs Moms|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|accessdate=December 8, 2019}}</ref> Some critics favorably compared the set design to ''[[Tron: Legacy]]'' (2010),<ref name = "SydneyMorning"/><ref name = "ScreenDaily"/> including Tim Grierson of ''[[Screen Daily]]'', who opined that the motion-capture "improved significantly since the days of ''The Polar Express''." He also spotlighted the film's attempt at a "tonal divide," as it has both comic sequences typical for a kids film and themes about sacrifice. However, he criticized the "chaotic" story and two "irksome" protagonists: Milo, whose voice actor "overdoes the character's whiny anxiousness to the point that it's hard to root for him;" and Gribble, a "predictably wisecracking sidekick."<ref name = "ScreenDaily">{{cite web|last=Grierson|first=Tim|date=March 8, 2011|url=https://www.screendaily.com/mars-needs-moms/5024613.article|title=Mars Needs Moms|website=[[Screen Daily]]|accessdate=December 8, 2019}}</ref> ''[[Us Weekly]]'' also panned the characters: "[Milo] makes a whiny hero, and Dan Fogler (as his buddy on Mars) fails to amuse. Plus, why is Milo's stay-at-home mom a saint and the working alien moms evil?"<ref>{{cite web|last=Adams|first=Thelma|date=March 8, 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110313083627/http://www.usmagazine.com/moviestvmusic/news/review--mars-needs-moms-201183|archivedate=March 13, 2011|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/moviestvmusic/news/review--mars-needs-moms-201183|title=Mars Needs Moms|work=[[Us Weekly]]|accessdate=December 9, 2019}}</ref> ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' praised ''Mars Needs Moms''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s motion-capture visuals, but analogized its story as too much like a [[Disneyland]] ride and also called it "odd [...] how a movie meant to glorify moms is so riddled with anti-feminist concepts."<ref>{{cite web|last=Honeycutt|first=Kirk|date=March 8, 2011|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/mars-needs-moms-film-review-165364|title=Mars Needs Moms: Film Review|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|accessdate=December 8, 2019}}</ref> ''[[Time Out New York]]'' called it not that much different from other children's science fiction movies: "After the novelty of these backgrounds and comin’-at-ya bits wears off, ''Mars Needs Moms'' has to rely on Fogler's obnoxious Jack Black Jr. shtick, a weak subplot involving a ’60s-obsessed Martian graffiti artist (Harnois) and rote video-game-y action sequences to carry it along—and that simply won't cut it."<ref>{{cite web|last=Fear|first=David|date=March 8, 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110312095215/http://newyork.timeout.com/arts-culture/film/990359/mars-needs-moms|archivedate=March 12, 2011|url=http://newyork.timeout.com/arts-culture/film/990359/mars-needs-moms|title=Mars Needs Moms|work=[[Time Out New York]]|accessdate=December 9, 2019}}</ref> ''Entertainment Weekly'' positively described the film as a children's movie version of ''Avatar'': "Enhanced by nimble ad-libbing from the comedy-trained cast, the screenplay is delightful, by turns funny and emotional, as befits a Disney family fable in which, through wacky adversity, Mom and kid reaffirm their love for each other while Dad is nowhere in sight. (He's not dead, just away on business.) And with its splendid use of computer-generated motion-capture animation and 3-D effects, the movie is also visually magnificent — modestly so."<ref>{{cite web|last=Schwarzbaum|first=Lisa|date=March 10, 2011|url=https://ew.com/article/2011/03/10/mars-needs-moms-2/|title=Mars Needs Moms|work=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|accessdate=December 9, 2019}}</ref> Lael Loewenstein of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety magazine]]'' gave the film a mixed review and called it "A modestly enjoyable performance-capture creation bearing the unmistakable imprint of producer Robert Zemeckis."<ref name="VarietyReview" /> In addition to acclaiming the visuals, ''[[SFX (magazine)|SFX]]'' also opined gave some praises towards the writing "there are some good laughs, it's pacy enough to whizz us on by the sometimes repetitive narrative [...] and although it's hard to see little boys admitting that they really do love their mummies – as much as the film wants them to – ''Mars Needs Moms'' does provoke a few lumps in older throats, for all you may decry its mawkish Stateside sensibilities."<ref name = "Sfx">{{cite web|last=Berriman|first=Ian|date=April 8, 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627002145/http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/04/08/mars-needs-moms-film-review/|archivedate=June 27, 2013|url=http://www.sfx.co.uk/2011/04/08/mars-needs-moms-film-review/|title=Mars Needs Moms – Film review|work=[[SFX (magazine)|SFX]]|accessdate=December 8, 2019}}</ref> Nick Schager of ''[[The Village Voice]]'' was very harsh; panning the "rubbery," "unreal," and "unsettling" character animation, which he called a "jarring dissonance" with the science fiction setting; and the stealing of common tropes in other well-known science fiction films. He also noted a major plot hole, specifically Supervisor's stealing of mothers' disciplinary skills for use on technological devices: "The plot thus hinges on a fundamental illogicality, since the chief differentiating characteristic between mothers and machines isn't discipline but compassion."<ref name = "VillageVoice">{{cite web|last=Schager|first=Nick|date=March 9, 2011|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2011/03/09/curse-of-the-mummy-in-mars-needs-moms/|title=Curse of the Mummy in Mars Needs Moms|work=[[The Village Voice]]|accessdate=December 8, 2019}}</ref> Some reviewers questioned the film's moral about well-behaved kids having their very good mothers taken by aliens.<ref>{{cite web|last=Meek|first=Tom|date=March 10, 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110319065507/http://thephoenix.com/Boston/movies/116857-mars-needs-moms/|archivedate=March 19, 2011|url=http://thephoenix.com/Boston/movies/116857-mars-needs-moms/|title=Review: Mars Needs Moms|work=[[The Phoenix (newspaper)|The Phoenix]]|accessdate=December 9, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name = "VillageVoice"/> === Box office === ''Mars Needs Moms'' was a [[Box-office bomb|box-office failure]], and the worst financial loss for a Disney-branded film. It earned $1,725,000 on its first day, for a weekend total of $6,825,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/03/13/box-office-report-battle-los-angeles/ |title=Box office report: 'Battle: Los Angeles' conquers all with $36 mil |work=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=March 13, 2011 |accessdate=February 24, 2012 |last= Young |first= John}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/movies/box_office_mars_needs_moms_megaton_rXfg1tZS83Hojg0gEzTRfK |work=New York Post |first=Lou |last=Lumenick |title=Box Office: &apos;Mars Needs Moms&apos; a megaton bomb |date=March 14, 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317023722/http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/movies/box_office_mars_needs_moms_megaton_rXfg1tZS83Hojg0gEzTRfK |archivedate=March 17, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This is the 22nd-worst opening ever for a film playing in 3,000+ theaters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/weekends/worstopenings.htm?page=WRSTOPN30&p=.htm|title=Worst Openings at the Box Office for 3,000+ Theatres|work=[[Box Office Mojo]]|accessdate=October 12, 2018}}</ref> Adjusted for inflation, considering the total net loss of money (not the profit-to-loss ratio), it was still the fourth-largest box office disappointment in history.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ben Riley-Smith |url=http://www.thefirstpost.co.uk/76666,news-comment,entertainment,mars-needs-moms-does-flop-mean-3d-is-history |title='Mars Needs Moms': does flop mean 3D is history? |publisher=thefirstpost.co.uk |date=March 21, 2011 |accessdate=July 31, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/why-disneys-mars-needs-moms-167551 |title=Why Disney's 'Mars Needs Moms' Bombed |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=March 14, 2011 |accessdate=February 24, 2012 |last= McClintock |first= Pamela}}</ref> In 2014, the ''Los Angeles Times'' listed the film as one of the most expensive box-office disasters of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-box-office-flops-pictures,0,7165703.photogallery#axzz2tJcnZf9r|last= Eller |first= Claudia |title=The costliest box office flops of all time|date=January 15, 2014|work= [[Los Angeles Times]] |accessdate=October 6, 2014}}</ref> On March 14, 2011, Brooks Barnes of ''[[The New York Times]]'' commented that it was rare for a Disney-branded film to do so badly, with the reason for its poor performance being the unoriginal premise, the style of animation, which fails to cross the [[uncanny valley]] threshold,<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/j.cognition.2015.09.019|title=Reducing consistency in human realism increases the uncanny valley effect; increasing category uncertainty does not|journal=Cognition|volume=146|pages=190–205|year=2016|last1=MacDorman|first1=Karl F.|last2=Chattopadhyay|first2=Debaleena}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1109/MRA.2012.2192811|title=The Uncanny Valley &#91;From the Field&#93;|journal=IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine|volume=19|issue=2|pages=98–100|year=2012|last1=Mori|first1=Masahiro|last2=MacDorman|first2=Karl|last3=Kageki|first3=Norri}}</ref> and negative [[word of mouth]] on [[social networking|social networks]], along with releasing it on the same week as ''[[Battle: Los Angeles]]'' which had more hype with the general movie goers. Barnes concluded, "Critics and audiences alike, with audiences voicing their opinions on Twitter, [[blogs]] and other social media, complained that the Zemeckis technique can result in character facial expressions that look unnatural. Another common criticism was that Mr. Zemeckis focuses so much on technological wizardry that he neglects storytelling."<ref>{{cite news |first=Brooks |last=Barnes |date=March 14, 2011 |title=Many Culprits in Fall of a Family Film |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/15/business/media/15mars.html |accessdate=April 1, 2011}}</ref> === Accolades === ''Mars Needs Moms'' received a nomination for a [[Movieguide Awards|Movieguide Award]] for Best Film for Family Audiences;<ref>{{cite web|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309004411/http://www.movieguideawards.com/awards.html|archivedate=March 9, 2012|url=http://www.movieguideawards.com/awards.html|title=Awards|website=[[Movieguide Awards]]|accessdate=December 8, 2019}}</ref> while John Powell's work on it, ''[[Rio (2011 film)|Rio]]'' (2011), and ''[[Kung Fu Panda 2]]'' (2011) garnered him a nomination for the 2011 [[World Soundtrack Awards|World Soundtrack Award]] for Film Composer of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldsoundtrackawards.com/en/awards/film-composer-of-the-year/6|title=Film Composer of the Year|website=[[World Soundtrack Awards]]|accessdate=December 8, 2019}}</ref> ==Soundtrack== {{Infobox album | name = Mars Needs Moms | type = [[Soundtrack]] | artist = [[John Powell (composer)|John Powell]] | cover = | alt = | released = March 3, 2011 | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = [[Film soundtrack]], [[film score]] | length = 1:26 | label = [[Walt Disney Records|Walt Disney]] | producer = John Powell | chronology = [[John Powell (composer)|John Powell]] | prev_title = [[Knight and Day]] | prev_year = 2010 | next_title = [[Rio (2011 film)|Rio]] | next_year = 2011 }} The film's score was composed by [[John Powell (composer)|John Powell]]. The soundtrack was released by [[Walt Disney Records]] on March 3, 2011. * "[[Crazy Little Thing Called Love]]" – [[Queen (band)|Queen]] * "Mars Observers" * "Abduction and Trashworld" * "Enjoy the Ride" * "Mars Needs Moms" * "Gribble's Plan" * "Milo Escapes" * "Gribble's Loss" * "Firing Squad" * "To the Surface" * "The Sacrifice" * "Transformation" * "Family Reunion" * "Mars Needs Moms" (credits suite) * "Martian Mambo" ==See also== * [[List of biggest box-office bombs]] * [[List of films set on Mars]] ==References== {{Reflist|refs= <ref name="mojo">{{cite web|url=http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=marsneedsmoms.htm|title=Mars Needs Moms (2011)|work=[[Box Office Mojo]]|accessdate=November 9, 2012}}</ref> <ref name="LABox">{{cite news |first=Amy |last=Kaufman |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |title=Movie Projector: 'Battle: Los Angeles' will rule, 'Mars Needs Moms' will bomb |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2011/03/movie-projector-battle-los-angeles-red-riding-hood-mars-needs-moms.html |date=March 10, 2011 |accessdate=March 13, 2011}}</ref> }} ==External links== * {{Official website|http://movies.disney.com/mars-needs-moms}} * {{IMDb title|1305591}} * [http://www.bcdb.com/cartoon/117103-Mars_Needs_Moms.html ''Mars Needs Moms''] at the [[Big Cartoon Database]] * {{allmovie title|512928}} * {{rotten-tomatoes|mars_needs_moms}} * {{metacritic film|mars-needs-moms}} * [http://scoringsessions.com/2013/05/27/from-the-archive-john-powell-scores-mars-needs-moms/ Pictures of the scoring sessions of ''Mars Needs Moms''] at Scoringsessions.com {{Simon Wells}} {{Disney theatrical animated features}} [[Category:2011 films]] [[Category:American films]] [[Category:English-language films]] [[Category:2010s science fiction films]] [[Category:2010s American animated films]] [[Category:2011 3D films]] [[Category:2011 animated films]] [[Category:2011 computer-animated films]] [[Category:Alien abduction films]] [[Category:Alien invasions in films]] [[Category:American 3D films]] [[Category:American adventure comedy films]] [[Category:American animated science fiction films]] [[Category:Animated films based on children's books]] [[Category:2010s children's animated films]] [[Category:Disney animated films]] [[Category:Mars in film]] [[Category:Matriarchy]] [[Category:Motion capture in film]] [[Category:Walt Disney Pictures films]] [[Category:ImageMovers films]] [[Category:IMAX films]] [[Category:Films directed by Simon Wells]] [[Category:Films scored by John Powell]] [[Category:Adaptations of works by Berkeley Breathed]] [[Category:3D animated films]] [[Category:2010s children's fantasy films]]'