165. Astronaut; movie review

ASTRONAUT
Cert PG
96 mins
BBFC advice: Contains mild bad language, upsetting scenes

Quite often a film may have its heart in the right place but just doesn't work.
Such is the case with Shelagh McLeod's Astronaut which claims we are never too old to dream.
However, the fact is that we are. I am never going to play for England's football team or swim The Channel.
I haven't yet given up the notion of being a scratch golfer although I know the odds are stacked against me even reaching a single-figure handicap.
In other words, just because we dream of something, doesn't make it possible. No, an 80-year-old with life-threatening health problems is not going to be suddenly accepted into a space programme.
For most of his life, octogenarian Angus Stewart (Richard Dreyfuss) has been looking longingly at the stars in the hope of being among them.
However, his moment has long passed by and his greatest challenge now is staying alive.
Nevertheless, despite his heart condition, he is persuaded by his grandson (Richie Lawrence) to enter a national to be on a shuttle into space.
Angus's entry comes at the same time that he has been moved to a residential home by his daughter (Krista Bridges) and son-in-law (Lyriq Bent).
Therefore, Astronaut is as much about the family dynamic of young family and aged grandparent as it is about the space race.
Meanwhile, there is also a clear message which surrounds the importance of life experience.
The problem is that it is all a bit too twee and not dramatic enough to grab its audience.
I suspect that McLeod was trying to create the type of family movie which was regularly seen in the 60s and 70s.
Nowadays, audiences demand more action and are not satisfied with such easy resolutions.
That said, anyone would welcome Dreyfuss's lovable Angus as their grandfather.

Reasons to watch: Richard Dreyfuss living the dream
Reasons to avoid: A bit too twee in parts

Laughs: A couple of chuckles
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 5/10

Did you know? John Glenn was the oldest astronaut when he flew on STS-95 at the age of 77 -- officially as a "payload specialist", but in practice as a passenger.

The final word. Shelagh McLeod: ".My mum died in a nursing home and there was an old guy in the garden who was in a wheelchair and he was always staring up at the sky. One day I sat next to him and said: “What is it you’re looking for?” and he said: “Another go”. Flick Feast

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