The Astronaut I think is another one of those movies that exists but one that makes movie viewers, especially viewers who have watched a lot of movies in their lifetime, question just why the movie existed in the first place and how it got to be. I usually think these types of things during the midpoint because it certainly is more exciting than watching the movie itself. Yes, me pondering the same question that I’ve asked myself numerous times for many other movies I’ve watched. What’s even more interesting is how the movie poster makes it a point to highlight that it was produced by so-and-so, the director of other movies, in the hopes of drawing in more viewers. How is it possible that the same producer who produced A Quiet Place also produced this snoozer? Is the director really proud of this work? Anyway, like I said, stupid questions that pop up in my head during these types of movies.

Truth be told, The Astronaut is not all that bad. The story and pretty much everything else that goes on in the movie is straight up produced via some generic cookie-cutter movie template. In my opinion, if that is your base, then I’d expect the movie to only go uphill from there. It’s not a big ask because, once again, the movie feels like it came straight out of a template factory. I love Kate Mara, but she felt a bit stiff in this one. As for Laurence Fishburne, well, he probably could have sleepwalked through his performance.

Look alike spotted! Emily Hempshire and Kata Mara could be sisters.

I actually liked what they tried to do here. Yes, I kept saying that this is a cookie-cutter movie, but if you’re looking for a quick sci-fi horror film, there are likely a lot fewer better options out there. I think they could have wasted just a bit less time on the setup in the beginning and really done something different or special to set up the ending that was to come. Us having to watch Sam go through her exercises in the house along with that scene in the forest with the bugs could have been substituted for something that was a bit more engaging.

I liked the ending. I clearly have questions about the aliens, like obviously how they were captured and escaped in the first place and why it took so long for Sam to return to regular form. Like, why only after her return from her mission? Were they afraid of giving it away too soon? I think this was something they could have spent more time expanding on, and something that might have made the movie a bit better than what it currently is.