Parents' Guide to

Space Oddity

By Tara McNamara, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Dramedy about dreams and depression has drunk sex, language.

Movie PG-13 2023 92 minutes
Space Oddity Movie Poster: A young Black woman has her arms around a young White man who's looking toward Mars in the sky above the movie's title; below are images of other characters

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

  • Space Oddity Movie: A young White man looks at a planet on a computer monitor
  • Space Oddity Movie: Kevin Bacon holds an axe and looks upset while a woman tries to comfort him
  • Space Oddity Movie: A young White man and a young Black woman look at each other

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What's the Story?

Alex McAllister (Kyle Allen) is his rural town's SPACE ODDITY: He's selected by an independent and mysterious aerospace organization to be part of the crew for a one-way mission to Mars. While the townspeople crack jokes at his expense and his family (Kevin Bacon, Carrie Preston, Madeline Brewer) approaches his new job with skepticism -- even though it has helped draw him out of a crippling depression -- Daisy (Alexandra Shipp), the insurance agent who's looking into offering him coverage, wholly believes in Alex. What do you do when you meet the perfect girl just as you're leaving the planet?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

Kyra Sedgwick's amiable feature directing debut doesn't soar into space, but it does lift above the atmosphere. Space Oddity is enough to keep you looking out the window, if not quite enough to make you sure it was worth your while. Her gentle approach is competent, but it misses the mark in casting. Allen is talented and expressive, and he gives an empathetic performance. But the movie makes it clear that Alex is supposed to be the local "weird kid," someone the whole town has seen grow up and considers an oddball. However, other than whole-heartedly pursuing a far-fetched career scheme, there's nothing unusual or "weird" about Alex. He's conventionally attractive and only a little awkward, so when Daisy takes a romantic interest in him, it's not like it's because she immediately sees him for the person that he is. He's a cutie and they appear to be the only 21-year-olds in the entire town: Of course they're going to get together!

This matters because why tell this story -- why create a character who doesn't fit in the small town he can't escape -- if not to create a touchstone of relatability for viewers? This may make Space Oddity better suited for parents, who will connect with the idea that parents are ground control for kids who seem to be having a failure to launch. Still, while Alex's ambition is out of this world, the story and tone are grounded as the movie contrasts Alex's family's love and support with Daisy's.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about what kind of movie Space Oddity is. Is it a drama? A comedy? A romance? Who's the target audience? How can you tell?

  • What do you think is a good way to encourage and support someone who's going through a tough time? What would you do if you were Alex's family: Would you indulge him because it makes him happy, or would you be the voice of reason, even if that contributes to his depression?

  • The movie has a scene that raises the alarm about the dangers of climate change. What can we do to help the planet thrive and survive?

  • Why do you think so many science fiction movies take place in space? Do you consider Space Oddity a sci-fi film?

  • What is "purpose," and how does it motivate people to get up in the morning and feel excited to take on the day? What are ways to find your purpose?

Movie Details

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