Space Cadet Review: Rockets with Fake Degrees & Silly Chuckles
Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
“Space Cadet” is a silly comedy with an out-of-this-world, low-on-logic plot – a Florida bartender who didn’t attend college gets through NASA’s space program because her friend secretly embellishes her resume before sending it out. “Embellishes” is an understatement for adding in a fake doctorate or two, along with some international prizes! And the creators want us to believe that NASA does not do background checks on its candidates until they are already undergoing training. But hey, if you’re willing to roll with the silly, absurd plot, “Space Cadet” is kinda entertaining in bits and pieces.
Directed and written by Liz W. Garcia, “Space Cadet” stars Emma Roberts (We’re the Millers/Madame Web) as the hyperactive protagonist Rex Simpson, who dreamed of going to space as a girl, but her mother’s untimely demise confines her to her hometown in Florida. Attending her high school reunion after ten years makes Rex realize it’s still not too late for her to go to achieve her dreams, so she writes an emotional, soppy letter applying to NASA’s space program, which her friend Nadine (Poppy Liu) completely changes. Shockingly, Rex ends up getting a free ride to NASA, unaware that the folks at NASA think of her as an accomplished doctor, conservationist, and ace pilot. How long can the free-spirited bartender maintain her charade, and will her passion be enough to outshine the other candidates with actual relevant experience?
“Space Cadet” is supposed to be a ridiculously goofy comedy; however, even if you put logic aside, a lot of the writing is not as funny as it could be. There’s a very Disney/Nickelodeon energy to the plot, and it might’ve evoked more laughs if the creators aimed for a simpler, more high-school level story – maybe Rex getting into some exclusive space camp. Or something like the romantic comedy “Moonshot,” which is about a “loser” guy sneaking into a space shuttle to Mars to reunite with the girl of his dreams.
There are a few pop culture references throughout the runtime which are sort of amusing, like Tom Hopper playing Logan O’Leary, Rex’s supervisor at NASA, since Hopper is also known for playing Luther Hargreeves in “The Umbrella Academy,” who lives on the moon for months. Logan develops a crush on Rex; however, the chemistry between the actors is very awkward, which might’ve been deliberate, but it lacks a touch of romance. Gabrielle Union plays Logan’s colleague Pam Proctor, and there might’ve been more chemistry there, if the writers tried.
Poppy Liu as Rex’s pregnant BFF Nadine is quite funny as the supporting character, who constantly pretends to be fake references when NASA calls for background checks. Kuhoo Verma (she played the Maharajah’s sister in “Murder Mystery 2”) is cute as Violet Marie Vislawski, another NASA trainee and Rex’s nervous roommate with a million allergies and a flair for writing space fan fiction. All the good-looking actors, shiny sets, and some groovy background music manage to make “Space Cadet” watchable, and then comes the climax, which delivers a super cringe-y ending. Let’s say it involves Rex tackling a massive problem in a way that she would tackle an alligator, and suddenly the end scene makes one wonder if this film is basically an advertisement for Florida’s party folks – “we may look dumb, but we can outwit NASA scientists.”
If you are an Emma Roberts fan and keep your expectations low, “Space Cadet” isn’t all that bad a pick for a screwball comedy.
You can stream “Space Cadet” on Prime Video.
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