Sandler stars in so-so film for grown-ups about inner journey
You may not know it from the title or the vaguely cartoonish logo bearing that title, but “Spaceman” is not just another Adam Sandler-Netflix movie.
Unlike the comedic live-action and animated romps the actor and producer has churned out as part of the multiple-timesextended movie-making deal between his Happy Madison Productions and the streaming giant, this is a drama with Sandler front and center trying to make one giant leap for mankind and boldly going where no man has gone before.
But while “Spaceman” sees Sandler's character travel deep into the solar system on a solo mission, this story is primarily one of an introspective journey, as the protagonist worries the marriage he left on Earth is failing and works through choices he's made with the help of an unusual new friend.
It's always interesting to see Sandler take on the occasional drama, the “Saturday Night Live” alum giving strong performances in, for example, the well-received “PunchDrunk Love” (2002) and “Uncut Gems” (2021). Sorry to say he's not as good here, the actor never seeming to find a groove with the character of lonely Czech cosmonaut Jakub Prochazka.
Still, it is a little surprising — and very disappointing — that “Spaceman” is rarely more than borderline-engaging given it's directed by Johan Renck. Best known for helming episodes of television shows, including a handful of “Breaking Bad” installments, he most notably directed every chapter of the acclaimed 2019 limited series “Chernobyl.”
“Spaceman” is not on that level.
After a brief sequence
in which we watch Jakub walk through a small river while wearing his spacesuit, we are formally introduced to him as he is nearing Jupiter. Near the giant planet resides what's been dubbed the Chopra Cloud, a visually striking phenomenon in space that poses a threat to Earth.
“I wish you could see it the way I do,” he says during a broadcast back home before expressing excitement about soon venturing inside it and learning more about the mysterious particles that comprise it. “We still don't know what they are or where they come from, but as I enter the Chopra Cloud, I might just unravel some mysteries of the universe.”
During this chance for folks to interact with him, a young girl asks Jakub if he's lonely, noting that he's been referred to as “the loneliest man in the world.” He assures her that he is not that, that he talks every day with his
wife, Lenka (Carey Mulligan), who is carrying their child.
In truth, not only is Jakub lonely, but he's also not sleeping well, thanks at least in part to a malfunctioning toilet making constant noise. One night, he dreams of a small alien entity literally getting under his skin and crawling around under his face.
Soon, though, he encounters a much larger creature from a far-away place, a spider-like being he will come to name Hanus.
Initially, Hanus terrifies Jakub, who flees to the craft's airlock, suits up and exposes the ship to a blast of anti-contaminant chemicals in an attempt to hurt the nightmarish visitor. However, Hanus, speaking calmly and gently (Paul Dano of “The Batman” provides the mellow voice work), quickly convinces the fellow explorer he means him no harm.
Although he believes he may have lost his mind, Jakub is happy to have someone to talk to, especially since he suddenly isn't hearing from Lenka, which concerns him.
His worries are not offbase, as his wife has recorded a message in which she informs him she's leaving him — a message the woman in charge of the mission, Isabella Rossellini's Commissioner Tuma, is refusing to send through to Jakub.
Hanus not only can communicate with Jakub in his own language, the creature saying he has studied humanity and refers to Jakub only as “Skinny Human,” he seemingly has the power to help Jakub replay moments from his life, many of them painful.
However well-intended, this all is a bit … well, something. It feels a little precious at times, downright trite at others.
Scenes on the ground featuring Lenka, who goes to visit her mother, Zdena (Lena Olin), are strong enough that “Spaceman” may have benefited from more of them — especially given the acting talent of Mulligan (“Maestro,” “Promising Young Woman”).
The screenplay for “Spaceman” is written by Colby Day, who adapted it from Jaroslav Kalfař's 2017 novel, “Spaceman of Bohemia.” Regardless of whether this is intentional, the story keeps you guessing as to whether Hanus is real or something Jakub has unwittingly constructed — distractingly so, as that really isn't the point of the film.
It's also a little distracting that both Sandler and Mulligan sound as they typically do, Renck noting in the film's production notes that he doesn't “do accents.” (You may recall that in “Chernobyl,” a lot of Russian characters sounded VERY British.)
Ultimately, thick accents wouldn't elevate “Spaceman” to the point of being easy to recommend — especially with an ending that may require more than one viewing to understand. (Thank the cosmos for the rewind function!)
As it is, the film's appeal lies mainly in the fact that it is not the typical Adam Sandler-Netflix movie, and that takes this journey it only so far.
“Spaceman” is rated R for language. Runtime: 1 hour, 48 minutes.