"Mars Needs Moms" Showcases the Latest in Motion-Capture Technology

At its core, "Mars Needs Moms" tells a very familiar story, one in which a boy learns how much he really loves and needs his mom after she's gone. Inspired by a real-life incident at the home of Berkeley Breathed, creator of the "Bloom County" comic strip, this intergalactic tale uses motion-capture technology to show how important moms are to the family unit.

Young Milo (voice of Seth Dusky) is a typical kid who loves video games and hates broccoli, especially after his mom (Joan Cusack) tells him it's good for him. One evening, an ugly argument breaks out after dinner and, before Milo has a chance to apologize, a Martian spaceship kidnaps his mom. A frightened Milo then chases the ship and quickly becomes trapped inside.

On the Red Planet, Milo meets Gribble (Dan Fogler), a displaced Earthman who has been living underneath the surface for decades. Reluctantly, Gribble tells his new friend that the Martian leaders plan to extract all the 'momness' from his mother in order to raise their own children. The process, unfortunately, will destroy her memories and personality.

With a cast performing in skin-tight motion-capture suits, director Simon Wells ("The Time Machine") brings Berkeley Breathed's children's book to life in "Mars Need Moms." Wells enlists the help of Joan Cusack, the character actress who has become the definitive movie mom, and actor Seth Green, who provides Milo with his body movements and facial expressions.

Comic actor Dan Fogler is outstanding as Gribble, the rogue earthling who helps Milo. Gribble is a character stuck in the 80's, spouting pop culture references about movies and television shows from decades past. Elisabeth Harnois is a good match for Fogler as Ki, a rebellious Martian female who learned a lot from watching 1970's TV shows.

Mindy Sterling, a veteran of the "Austin Powers" movies, shows her comedic side as the Supervisor, the Martian in charge of finding and retrieving Earth moms. Sterling can recite paragraphs in Martian and make them sound believable simply by her inflection and facial expressions.

The most intriguing part of "Mars Needs Moms" occurs, however, during the closing credits. Director Simon Wells includes footage that shows exactly how his cast looked wearing their motion-capture suits. The process requires each actor and actress to wear a color-coded suit, bulky helmets and dots on their faces.

When all is said and done, "Mars Needs Moms" is a familiar tale with an outer space twist. The story does tug at the heartstrings and, for animation fans, it is a fun look at the latest breakthroughs in motion capture technology.

"Mars Needs Moms," rated PG for sci-fi action and peril, currently is playing in theaters.