Reaching for the Stars: The Unfulfilled Promise of Space Cadet

As I settled in to watch Space Cadet, Amazon’s latest comedy offering, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu. The film’s premise, which follows a young woman named Rex as she leaves her bartending job in Florida to pursue her dreams of becoming an astronaut, seemed eerily familiar. And then it hit me - I had seen this story before, in films like Legally Blonde and Private Benjamin.

Astronaut in space

The problem with Space Cadet isn’t that it’s unoriginal - after all, there’s nothing new under the sun. The problem is that it’s lazy, relying on tired tropes and clichés to carry its narrative. Emma Roberts, who plays Rex, is a talented actress who has shown her range in films like Wild Child. But even she can’t elevate this lackluster script, which is riddled with inconsistencies and absurdities.

Emma Roberts

Take, for example, the scene in which Rex applies to NASA’s astronaut program. Her friend Nadine, played by Poppy Liu, helps her spruce up her application with some embellishments. But when Rex is accepted into the program, no one bothers to fact-check her claims. It’s a glaring oversight that sets the tone for the rest of the film.

NASA logo

As I watched Space Cadet, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of disappointment. This could have been a film that celebrated women in STEM fields, that showed young girls that they too could reach for the stars. Instead, it’s a lazy, unfunny comedy that relies on cheap gags and shallow characters.

Astronaut helmet

In the end, Space Cadet is a film that promises much but delivers little. It’s a wasted opportunity, a chance to tell a meaningful story that’s instead squandered on lazy writing and poor production values.

Space Cadet poster