Movie Breakdown: The Space Between Us

Pre-Screening Stance:

I don’t really know much about The Space Between Us.  Before I had a chance to check out its trailer I happened upon a note that said it seemed to giveaway the whole story, so I decided to not bother.  I do know Gary Oldman is in it though, so that’s something to look forward to.

Post-Screening Ramble:

The Space Between Us is a film that means well, and because of that I tried my hardest to stick with it, but the damn thing is just so overdone and dumb that it eventually broke me and I spent all of its third act laughing and rolling my eyes.  Right from the start the film doesn’t make a lot of sense – an astronaut discovers she’s pregnant just after shipping off on a pioneering mission to Mars (how would that even slip by?) – and things only get sillier from there.  People disappear for no reason, secrets are kept for no reason, impossible relationships exist for no reason, wild action-y things happen for no reason and on and on and on.  It’s ridiculous and difficult to watch because there’s often no explanation for what’s happening on the screen.  I will, however, say this about the unfortunately TeenNick-feeling production, it does come off as abbreviated, so I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a longer cut out there somewhere in the world.  If there is, here’s hoping it’s much less trying than what’s being shoved into theaters.

I was serious when I noted that The Space Between Us means well.  Asa Butterfield’s Gardner is an odd-but-charming character and the film does carry a nice heartwarming message, but because of all the overly dramatic teen-talk and nonsensical plot points, it’s just not something that’s worth your time.  Skip.

One Last Thought:

The teenage version of Asa Butterfield essentially looks like this.  He even moves like one of those things.  It’s really awkward.  And hilarious.