Adam Sandler

Netflix’s latest space-drama film “Spaceman” puts Adam Sandler in a space suit — a very different role from his previous adventures.

Directed by Johan Renck, the film is based on a 2017 novel “Spaceman of Bohemia” by US author Jaroslav Kalfar, and explores themes of love, ambition, and self-discovery.

Jakub Pronchazka, played by Sandler, is an orphaned boy who decides to become the Czech Republic’s first astronaut. The leading cast includes Carey Mulligan, Paul Dano, Kunal Nayyar, and Isabella Rossellini.

However, “Spaceman” is not a typical Sandler film.

Speaking to Variety, Renck said:

“You show it to people and the first thing they see is

Adam Sandler, and then they kind of put on the

Adam Sandler glasses and spend the first 20 to 30 minutes of the film waiting for it to be funny. And then they slowly realize that not only is it not funny, but

Adam Sandler is not even a shadow of Adam Sandler. He’s just a dour, isolated, arrogant man.”

In a review written for Time, Stephanie Zacharek said: “No young actor should rush toward middle age. But those who are nervous about it should look to Adam Sandler for inspiration.”

She said that the film “lifts off from a promising premise only to wobble out of orbit in the finish — but even so, it is satisfying to watch these actors at work, fully committed to the strange, alienating world their characters are stuck in.” People on social media also rushed to praise the movie.

@Just_Me_Meh said on X: “15 minutes into the movie I thought I was going to hate it. by the end of it I was in. Both feet.” @michinaps said: “’Spaceman’ has crushed me … I want a spider companion to talk about the beginning and end.”

@Ricardo Alves posted: “You should totally go see it either in select cinemas or at home! It’s a trippy movie that I am happy to have worked on.”

The film is streaming on Netflix.