The Astronaut Farmer

MPAA Rating: PG for thematic material, peril and language
Release Date: Feb. 23, 2007

The story revolves around Charles Farmer (Billy Bob Thornton), who spends his whole life training to be an astronaut. He earned a degree in aerospace engineering and served as a pilot in the Air Force. But instead of joining the NASA astronaut training program, he’s forced to return home to the family ranch in Texas.

But that’s not the end of the story. He spends the next decade (and all his money) building a rocket in a barn on his ranch. His goal: launch himself into space. By himself.

Fortunately, he doesn’t have to do it alone. His wife, daughters, and 15-year-old son all want to help.

When word gets out about the wacky project, Farmer is thrown into the middle of a media frenzy. News hounds and tabloid reporters start camping outside his gate, even Jay Leno takes a shot at the “space cowboy”.

Farmer becomes a sort of renegade hero, garnering support from the public and stirring people to remember their long-lost dreams. He also wants to teach his kids to be brave, follow their heart, and never give up. After all, the family that dreams together, stays together.

The government isn’t quite as enthralled. They see him as a potential threat to civilian safety. He must be stopped. By any means possible.

So this movie is a little predictable and cliché with its save-the-farm, dream-big-dreams storyline. But it doesn’t get much better than Billy Bob Thornton in a flick that balances fun and drama, making for great family viewing.