Review of The Astronaut Farmer (2007) by Rachel F — 29 Aug 2009

This is a silly little film that really doesn't succeed in doing much of anything, as far as I'm concerned. It does not inspire, the acting is a bit flat, the scenarios are utterly implausible and the writing was amateurish.

All together, it came across as a 'CBS After School Special' movie or something similar - more or less cinematic chewing gum that should have stayed stuck on the bottom of the chair in the theater.

While there is some name talent in the film, and Billy Bob Thornton probably does the best he can with it, it has become axiomatic that pretty much any movie with Virginia Madsen in it as the female/romantic lead is going to be pretty bad.

..sadly, Astronaut Farmer does not break out of this mold. Bruce Dern and Bruce Willis pretty much just show up in extended cameos with a half-dozen lines each, so don't look for much there...they were clearly included only as a draw to the movie and otherwise contribute next to nothing.

Government agents are portrayed as cartoonish oafs, with FBI agents in particular coming across like something out of Reno 911. About the only acting that has any real merit is on the part of the young actor who plays Shepherd, the 15-year old son.

Overall, the film comes across as two-dimensional, flat and pointless. There are worse films out there to be sure (hence the rating) but there's no compelling reason to waste your time watching this one.