Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review Jul 31, 2023 1/4

An unsightly experience of motion-capture computer animation comprised of far too many so-called technological advances.

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Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Sep 16, 2020 2.0/4.0

A decent flick that could have been so much more.

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Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens Nov 16, 2019

I just love Simon Wells' sense of adventure and with Mars Needs Moms, he soars.

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Brandy McDonnell The Oklahoman Aug 15, 2018

With a more inventive storyline, Mars Needs Moms could have been an out-of-this-world cinematic experience. As is, the animated film offers an entertaining romp that will play best to the preschool and grade-school set and, yes, their moms.

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Jamie Neish HeyUGuys Aug 13, 2018 1/5

A badly animated, dispassionate and irresolute mess.

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David Keyes Cinemaphile.org Jan 31, 2014 1/4

Here is a movie that seems at war with the notion that animation can inspire or invigorate.

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Amy Curtis We Got This Covered Jun 2, 2013 7/10

Mars Needs Moms actually entertained me. There's the bright colors and great 3D, but there's also some touching moments and grown-up wit

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James Plath Movie Metropolis Dec 29, 2011 6/10

Mars Needs Moms isn't as bad as you've heard, nor is it as good as it could have been. Will it entertain your family? That depends on how much your kids like mo-cap technology, and how much attention they pay to the inner logic of a film.

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Guy Haley SFX Magazine Dec 22, 2011 4/5

A solid, vibrant family film that parents and young-ish nippers can enjoy together.

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Victoria Luxford The National (UAE) Sep 1, 2011 3/5

a disposable family adventure it more than fits the bill

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Peter Canavese Groucho Reviews Aug 8, 2011 1.5/4

The whole fiasco turns out to be an excuse to let Seth Green play a (redubbed) little boy. Next time, maybe just cast a real boy, build some sets in an old barn, and have Mom make the costumes. [Blu-ray 3D]

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Jules Brenner Cinema Signals Aug 2, 2011 2.5/5

An extraordinary achievement in character expressiveness and realistic movement limited by a storyline for a pre-middle school audience.

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Matt Fowler IGN Jun 20, 2011 3/5

Mars Needs Moms dares to venture into some sad, tragic territory which, in a perverse way, made the film a bit more enjoyable and prevented it from being completely underwhelming

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Dan Gear Moviedex May 5, 2011 2/5

Infused with a half-baked psychedelic ethos, incorporating some rather incongruous imagery that is supposed to tie in with its simple-minded politics regarding ideas of child rearing and gender roles.

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Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia) Apr 14, 2011 2/5

If Mars Needs Moms had not have been produced using the mo-cap process -- which still hasn't fixed the problem where some folk have a spooky, neither-alive-nor-dead look -- it might have stood more chance of finding an audience.

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Jim Schembri The Age (Australia) Apr 13, 2011 4/5

What really sells this fabulous, kid-friendly 3D adventure to anybody over eight (no offense, kids) is its astonishing visuals, which uses motion-capture technology to a degree that surpasses what we saw in Avatar.

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Jake Wilson The Age (Australia) Apr 13, 2011 1.5/5

The credited director is Simon Wells (The Time Machine), but the grotesque characters and dark action bear the Zemeckis stamp.

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Joseph Proimakis Movies for the Masses Apr 13, 2011 2/5

full review at Movies for the Masses

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Martin Roberts Fan The Fire Apr 12, 2011 2/5

Most kids (and any accompanying parents) will find this to be of a noticeably lower standard than many of the other children's films that have been released recently.

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Alistair Harkness Scotsman Apr 10, 2011 2/5

Offers yet more proof that performance capture is a terrible idea when it comes to making fully animated feature films.

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