The Astronaut Farmer (2007)

GOOD UPLIFTING FILM BUT, NOT TOTALLY ABSORBING!
I watched this movie this weekend and I expected it to be a little better than it turned out. It's a good movie with fine performances all around. It just didn't pull me in like I wanted it to and it seemed a bit long even though it's only a little over a hour and a half. It's certainly worth watching and it does have an uplifting ending so you may want to rent instead of buying it.

a movie for the entire family
I went in expecting a nice pleasant family movie, and that's exactly what I got. The premieres we seen from the commercials painted the entire picture. A father wants to create a rocket to launch him into outer space, and along the way, he has to deal with the FBI and more than his fair share of major disappointments preventing his dream from coming true.

I think the movie had its share of hits and misses (though nothing TOO uneventful thankfully). I mean, the character build up in the beginning (the segments where we get to know all the main characters) was very boring, but then, once the father got the urge to build his dream rocket and wanted his family to be included in the project (especially his son), the story really began to pick up.

I didn't really like the ending though. I won't say what happens at the end, but it just ends, and that's it. Wasn't too impressed with that. I was also disappointed they used the very predictable Elton John classic "Rocket Man" for the ending credits theme. Come on now, that's just too obvious of a choice (as great as the song is).

What made the movie so great was how many times the father was convinced he was gonna give up completely building the rocket, only for something to come along and change his mind. This is the main thing that kept me watching.

Overall, yeah, it's about what you'd expect. Family fun, and a light storyline with some meaning and feeling attached to it to make you feel good.

I LOVED this movie - total departure for Billy Bob
This is truly a feel good movie - but with many minor aspects thrown in. Yes, Billy Bob plays a dreamer - but his character is so much more complex then that - he is a father who wants to show his kids to literally reach for the moon and to NOT give up on your dreams and desires and yet he is a son, trying to heal from the hurt of the loss of his father. One of the scenes I loved was between Bruce Dern and Billy Bob when Bruce was telling him what a great father he was. I just loved it!

I also love the aspect of this man taking on the government and the "laws" that protect us and the premise that the government "owns" space - for me that was another aspect of the movie that I enjoyed - especially with the FBI agents - they were great.

It's a funny, feel good movie with a lot of messages hidden within this movie!