Review: The Astronaut Farmer (2007) (contains some spoilers)

Before I start, I should point out that as a general rule, I try to avoid films that tug on one's heartstrings. I am, by my own acknowledgement, an oversensitive wuss when it comes to movies, television, and other such things. I get cranky over the smug superiority of the Geico Cavemen, I get annoyed at the script-enforced character flaws of the characters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and I avoid the Lifetime Channel and any show made by Hallmark. So it is with caution that I approach these sorts of films - caution and an awareness that I am likely to be drawn into sappy concern for fictional characters, or annoyance at their decisions in life, particularly when these decisions don't feel natural to the way they are portrayed as characters. I am prone to feeling sympathy for the fictional when life is treating them badly, and I dislike when characters behave in a matter inconsistent with the way they are portrayed.

With that said, let's talk about the movie itself. At its heart, The Astronaut Farmer is a classic story - man reaches for the stars and attempts to realize his dreams, no matter what life throws at him. Of course, in this case, the 'reaching for the stars' is literal; the title character, a former NASA astronaut turned rancher by the name of Charles Farmer, is building a rocket in his barn. When we are introduced to him, in fact, the point is belabored slightly by him riding on horseback while wearing a spacesuit. However, the reason for this becomes apparent a few minutes later - Charles Farmer is not a kooky nut, but a reasonable man who is visiting his kids' school to talk about how a space suit works.

The opening scenes firmly establish that Charles' ambitions are not taken seriously by the townsfolk - most of whom find him eccentric at best, crazy at worst. Furthermore, the construction of this rocket has put Farmer's family deeply into debt, a major plot point of the film. With the bank threatening to foreclose on his assets, Charles hurries to attempt to complete his rocket before it can be taken away from him.

Enter the other major plot point - the government. Perhaps understandably, the government does not look kindly on people building rockets for themselves; the reasons presented are numerous, from bureaucratic obstinacy to concern for public safety to a general distrust of anyone capable of building a rocket capable of reaching orbit. The FBI starts hounding their family, the media pursues their every move, and the FAA launches an investigation to delay the launch indefinitely.

Eventually, without express permission and after great difficulties, Charles manages to get into space; even as the government denies that the launch ever occurred, it is evident to all - from the townsfolk of Story, Texas to the United States Air Force - that one man can accomplish his dreams, no matter the odds.

I've purposefully been vague about the specifics of the plot, but one comes to expect certain things from a movie whose message focuses on following one's dreams. The most important one is seeing the title character's ambitions fulfilled in the end, however unexpectedly. If any of you happen to be sappy, sentimental types like me who get far too emotionally invested in these sorts of things, I will assure you that the film has a happy ending - but that, like all good stories, that happy ending only comes after the hardships that make it feel like an accomplishment truly earned.

The story itself is very well-written; at no time did I feel like the characters of the movie were being compelled to an action uncharacteristic of them, and at no time did I get the impression that the movie was an obvious work of fiction - it was portrayed believably by its actors, and represented all forces - protagonistic and antagonistic - as human beings, which I think is the most important factor in determining whether a movie such as this is truly good or bad.

I must admit that the one thing I clearly remember from the trailer - the one thing that made me agree that going to see this in the theaters was a good idea, instead of waiting for the inevitable DVD - was a scene in which Charles Farmer is being investigated by the FAA, and is asked, to quote: "Mr. Farmer, how do we know you aren't constructing a WMD?" Charles Farmer replies, after a moment's thought, with: "Sir, if I was building a weapon of mass destruction, you wouldn't be able to find it." The humanity of this response is part of what made me want to see this movie, and I must say that The Astronaut Farmer does not disappoint on this score; while the government is an obvious adversarial force in the film, it is not depicted as such without its reasons, nor are those within it shown as more sinister than the human beings they are.

I strongly recommend that people see this movie, either in theaters or at home - but if you happen to be easily moved to emotion, watch with caution, as this movie does an excellent job of emotionally investing you without making its characters into stereotypical archetypes.