Space Warriors

Space Warriors is an adventure of galactic proportions when it's viewed through the lens of a child's imagination. Adults may have trouble accepting the very far-fetched plot surrounding NASA's seeming incompetence and what amounts to the teens' power coup, but that won't be the case for starry-eyed kids. The heroes of the story are a bunch of brainy, indomitable teens whose acting cast manages to overshadow the likes of grown-up costars Glover, Josh Lucas, Mira Sorvino, and Dermot Mulroney. An impressive feat, to say the least, but no more so than the story's clever illustrations of solid messages about fair play, honesty, teamwork, and grace under pressure. Factor in a classic underdog subplot and the drama of a race against the clock to save some stranded astronauts, and this one will have kids' attention in no time.

Filmed on location at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and featuring historical footage and accounts of memorable moments in the space program, Space Warriors also acts as a thinly veiled public service announcement for the importance of NASA and continued space exploration. This is bound to start some worthwhile conversations with your kids, but the references to actual events also blur the lines between the fictional story and reality, so unless your kids can discern the difference themselves, you will find yourself explaining it throughout the movie.