Mars Needs Moms

Ah, Easter, when the studios unleash all those mid-range family projects not strong enough to endure a summer or Christmas release. ‘Mars Needs Moms’ is a textbook example, a forgettable roto-animated romp for undemanding pre-teens complete with 3D action, a C-list voice cast and a good wholesome message about respecting your mother, provided she’s not an evil alien overlord.

Perennial nearly-man Seth ‘Scott Evil’ Green voices Milo, the petulant pre-teen who embarks on an impromptu interplanetary voyage when his long-suffering mother (Joan Cusack) is kidnapped by parentally inexperienced Martians to train their army of soulless nanny-bots. 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, but if all you’re looking for is a way to keep the kids quiet for 90 minutes, this should just about suffice.