Topic: SpaceCamp

[Danae Cassandra]

SpaceCamp
Year of Release: 1986
Directed By:  Harry Winer
Starring: Kate Capshaw, Lea Thompson, Kelly Preston, Larry B. Scott, Joaquin Phoenix, Tate Donovan, Tom Skerritt
Genre: Adventure, Science-Fiction, Disaster

Overview:
Zero gravity meets zero fear in this cosmic comedy-adventure about a summer camp where regular kids check in...and real astronauts check out! Starring Kate Capshaw, Lea Thompson, Kelly Preston, Larry B. Scott, Leaf Phoenix and Tate Donovan, SpaceCamp is a wild and wonderful thrill-ride packed with "special effects...spectacular moments" (Film Journal) and a "gripping climax" (Time Out Film Guide) that's out of this world!

For five typical teens, NASA's space camp promises to be a fun way to blow off the summer. But when a space shuttle exercise misfires, they find themselves launched into orbit, facing the adventure of a lifetime. Now, the only way back to Earth is to take command of the ship and control of their destinies, before time – and oxygen – runs out!

My Thoughts:
I'd forgotten how enjoyable this film is.  I have fond memories of it from childhood, and it's still an entertaining watch.  I still get a warm fuzzy from "Jinx and Max best friends forever." Part of me cringes at the message being sent with the overachiever girl being wrong about a crucial thing and then freezing in decision making though.  Try to imagine the roles of Kevin & Kathryn gender reversed and you see the problem.  I did like the other girl, though, the one who appears to be a bubblehead but is really super-smart.  That quibble aside, it's still a whole-hearted recommendation from me for a fun, kid-friendly movie.

Bechdel Test: Pass

Overall: 3/5

[Dragonfire]

I remember liking this one overall too.  You make a good point about what they did with the one girl character.  Woman are too......emotional or flighty or whatever to deal with a stressful or difficult job.

[DSig]

I remember liking this one overall too.  You make a good point about what they did with the one girl character.  Woman are too......emotional or flighty or whatever to deal with a stressful or difficult job.

Oh wow .. I hope that was a factitious statement   I guess I will have to watch it to see

[Dragonfire]

I was meaning that writers or whoever seemed to feel like that.  Have to take the smart girl and make her ...sort of crumble I guess instead of being fully capable throughout the movie.