Parents' Guide to

The Astronaut Farmer

By Cynthia Fuchs, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Billy Bob dreams of space in uneven fantasy drama.

Movie PG 2007 104 minutes
The Astronaut Farmer Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

Community Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 1 parent review

Tsion
Tsion Parent of 13-year-old
March 20, 2009
age 11+

A Laugh-Out-Loud Movie...But Not In a Good Way

THE ASTRONAUT FARMER is not a good movie. At all. If you watch it, you probably won't enjoy it, due to its laughable story, soap-opera script, and bad acting. Language is an issue in the movie. "S**t" and "a*s" are used some, and so is "d**n". A man recalls his father's suicide, and the main character is beat up pretty bad after a shuttle crash. He is also a bad role model for kids. He sacrifices his family's hopes and dreams on a whim to make himself feel good, and we're supposed to praise him for it. He acts irrationally to situations and vandalizes public buildings.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much swearing
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

A former astronaut who had to leave the space program to tend to family issues, Charlie Farmer (Billy Bob Thornton) still wants to be an astronaut in the worst way. By day, he works on his ranch (sometimes wearing his space suit); at night, he builds a rocket in the barn, with the goal of orbiting his capsule one time around the earth. The enormity of the project is daunting. Charlie leaves daily life details to his infinitely patient wife Audie (Virginia Madsen). Even when she discovers that Charlie has nearly bankrupted the family ("You're supposed to keep us safe"), Audie doesn't quite put a stop to the adventure. A visit from her own ailing father (Bruce Dern) makes her think hard about men's limits and aspirations, and how best to help them understand both.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

Part frontier myth, part family saga, and part redemption story, this disparate drama is about dreaming, sacrifice, and obsession. Charlie remains fixated despite money troubles, legal threats, and taunts. His quirky outlook recalls the Polish brothers' earlier films (Northfork, Twin Falls Idaho), but the one in this movie is more literal. It's also too dependent on Audie as a "device." Like many women in the movies, she bears and expresses the emotional costs of Charlie's masculine dreaming.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether this movie is a fantasy, a drama, or both. What makes something a fantasy? Families can also discuss how Charlie's two major responsibilities -- to follow his dream and support his family -- conflict with each other. Does he make a good choice? How does his desire to orbit his rocket both inspire and frighten his children? What obstacles does Charlie face? How does Audie support her husband?

Movie Details

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