The Astronaut Farmer

The Astronaut Farmer is an entertaining and interesting family film, but it fizzles out on inspiration. Played by Billy Bob Thornton, Charles Farmer's incredible feat, his life long dream fulfillment, falls flat for this movie goer. It's just too unrealistic to be inspiring. But with recent media attention focused on the real life eccentricities of NASA's space engineers, the timing is perfect for a film about an "astro-nut."

• Genre: Family; Adventure
• DVD Release: July 10, 2007
• Film Release: February 23, 2007
• Rated: PG
• Distributed by: Warner Bros. Pictures
• Director: Michael Polish
• Cast: Billy Bob Thornton (Charles Farmer), Virginia Madsen (Audie Farmer), Bruce Dern (Hal), Tim Blake Nelson (Kevin Munchak), Max Thieriot (Shepard Farmer), Jasper Polish (Stanley Farmer), Logan Polish (Sunshine Farmer), Jon Gries (FBI Agent Killbourne)
• Writers: Mark Polish and Michael Polish
• Producers: Mark Polish, Paula Weinstein, Len Amato and Michael Polish

Charles Farmer's childhood dream was to be an astronaut. As an Air Force pilot with a degree in aerospace engineering, and enrolled in NASA's astronaut training program, he was well on his way to fulfilling that dream. However, his father's unexpected death caused him to make the tough decision to return home to save his 300 acre Texas ranch, and in the process be dismissed from the space program. But Farmer never let go of his dream to launch himself into space. With his family's support and enthusiasm, he spends everything they own to achieve all he's ever wanted. Together they build a rocket that will one day be Farmer's ticket to outer space.

As a father, Farmer tries to instill courage in his children by teaching them to pursue their dreams and live to accomplish what they believe in most. He manages to unite his entire family with a common goal which they are committed to - against all opposition. When friends discourage them and authorities try to assassinate their dream, Farmer speaks out against today's culture: "Somewhere along the line we stopped believing that we can do anything, and if we don't have our dreams, we don't have anything."

As a mother, Audie is a woman of faith, self-sacrifice and unwavering support. She takes her children to church, works in a diner to help make ends meet, and eventually gives up her inheritance to save their home and keep her family's dream alive.

Negative Elements:

The film attempts to inspire, but falls short.

Charles Farmer knows what it means to sacrifice. Yet sacrificing one's self for the sake of a dream is one thing. Putting the safety, security and well-being of your family on the line pushes this particular ambition past inspiration and into the realm of unhealthy obsession. The family home is on the verge of foreclosure. They have no money for groceries. Child protective services are threatening to remove the children from the home. One must draw the line somewhere between aspirations and responsibility.

Charles Farmer breaks a few laws on his journey toward fulfilling his dream - not exactly a good lesson to teach your children.

There is no nudity in the film. In one scene, characters reminisce about their high school relationship and refer to sex as "getting laid."

Violence:

Very little violence is exhibited in the film. Charles Farmer vandalizes the bank by throwing a brick in the window and nearly hits the bank's manager. A loud domestic argument includes yelling, throwing of objects and breaking plates. Viewers see a brief post-accident scene that results in bloody injuries. Characters discuss a suicide, though not in graphic terms, and an old man is found dead in his bed when a young child tries to wake him from sleep. The threat of peril is impending in a few scenes.

Language:

Though viewers are spared from hearing the f-word and the taking of the Lord's name in vain, they will experience quite a bit of language in this film including three uses of each of the words "d*mn," "h*ll" and "sh*t," six uses of "a**," and one "son of a "b*tch."

Drug and Alcohol:

Two scenes show slightly intoxicated adult characters drinking from beer bottles.

Now don't rush out of the theater at the end and miss one my favorite moments of the film when Charles Farmer is interviewed in a cameo appearance by Jay Leno on the Tonight Show.

The film highlights another cameo by Bruce Willis as one of Farmer's NASA colleagues. This appearance lends for a little excitement in an otherwise slow moving plot. Willis arrives on the farm to convince the space cowboy that what he's attempting is impossible. To his credit, Farmer demonstrates incredible perseverance in the face of tremendous obstacles. Opposition comes from every side - friends, neighbors, law enforcement, the community, the bank, the media, the FBI, CIA, and the FAA.

One of the film's producers, Len Amato, sums up this theme in the production notes saying, "As a story about overcoming obstacles, it can apply to any accomplishment where there's always a certain amount of doubt and a chorus of naysayers - people who call you crazy because they don't understand - and you have to push through with your own vision to make something where there was nothing before. It's also about taking calculated risks and overcoming your fear."

Overcoming fear is one theme that did inspire me throughout The Astronaut Farmer. Charles Farmer knew the danger and yet was willing to risk his very life to obtain what he wanted most in life. As a Christian I reflected on this question: Am I willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of following Christ? Am I willing to stand up against all opposition and live to accomplish what I believe in most?