Review of ‘Space Cadet’: A Missed Opportunity for Liftoff

The Simpsons family, much like the iconic TV show, stands out from your typical two-person household in every possible way.

When Rex Simpson (played by Emma Roberts) walks into an interview at the Johnson Space Center in Houston surrounded by top scientists and astronauts, she can’t help but exclaim, ‘I’m so excited!’. This moment feels like a scene straight out of Space Cadet, the new sci-fi comedy on Prime Video. Rex, a cheerful and determined character, decides to pursue her childhood dream of becoming an astronaut on a special ‘crescent moon’ day. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes apparent that the movie is more of a high school party vibe disguised as a space adventure. The predictable plot and formulaic approach leave little room for genuine entertainment. In the Simpson family, just like in the popular sitcom, each member is far from the ordinary two-person household setup. Rex, the daughter, balances her life as an inventor by day and a bartender and dreamer by night, while her father works as a ‘paranormal tour guide’ (yes, that’s right, had to double-check that detail!). Although Rex should ideally be relatable, her character comes off as one-dimensional, making it challenging to fully support her journey, despite her charismatic appearance with starry blonde hair and vibrant outfits. While she claims to love her father, this emotional connection doesn’t quite translate effectively on screen. Throughout the film, Rex’s focus seems to be solely on having a good time in a storyline that lacks depth. She sprinkles her dialogue with phrases like ‘rad’ and ‘hard-core’ and forces laughter when scientists refer to themselves as ‘AsCons’ (short for the training team). The movie attempts to portray her as a cool character, but it feels forced and unnatural.

Space Cadet takes a bit of a dive into the world of make-believe, just like Rex’s far-fetched dreams. In the show, when Nadine Cai sneaks in a fake application to NASA, it’s surprising how none of the seasoned folks at the Johnson Space Center bother to fact-check it. Even when they do a background check, Dr. Logan O’Leary seems to trust Rex’s references without verifying them online. It’s like they forgot about the power of a simple Google search. Rex’s character in Space Cadet tries to drop some deep lines like “The universe is energy” and “We’re all stardust,” but it doesn’t quite hit the mark. Despite her enthusiasm for the cosmos, she struggles to make us believe in her vision. Amidst all the spacey drama, there are bright spots in Space Cadet. The bond between Violet Vislawski and Rex as they navigate the challenges of the space program brings some warmth to the story. It’s touching to see Rex comforting Violet during a tough moment, even though she follows it up with a somewhat dismissive “It’s all in your head,” which kind of undermines the moment.

Space Cadet shoots for the stars but falls short with its characters lacking relatability, subpar visual effects, and a dull storyline.

Title: Space Cadet

Director: Liz W Garcia

Genre: Fantasy

Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video

Language: English

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars