Emma Roberts has The Right Stuff in this NASA-set girl power comedy. Do the kids still say girl power?
How to watch Space Cadet in the UK
Space Cadet is now streaming in the UK exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
Space Cadet
What is Space Cadet about?
It’s pretty much Legally Blonde in orbit, as Roberts plays party girl Tiffany “Rex” Simpson who, having squandered her considerable scientific talents in her younger days (fair is fair, her mum was dying) resolves to apply to NASA anyway in order to pursue her dream of becoming an astronaut. Thanks to a ridiculously embellished C.V., she gets in. And, as is the way of such things, hijinks and romance ensue.
Come to think of it, the original model for this sort of thing might be the Goldie Hawn vehicle, Private Benjamin. Remember that one?
The cast of Space Cadet
As we noted, Emma Roberts is our girl Rex; Poppy Liu is her resume-forging bestie, Nadine; Tom Hopper is the wonderfully-named hunky head instructor Logan O’Leary; and Gabrielle Union and Dave Foley are on hand as NASA suits Pam Proctor and Rudolph Bolton, respectively; with Kuhoo Verma, Desi Lydic, Sebastián Yatra, and Sam Robards as Rex’s dad also on hand.
This one comes to us from writer and director Liz W. Garcia, who also gave us the similarly-themed The Lifeguard, starring Kristen Bell, and One Percent More Humid, featuring Juno Temple and Julia Garner.
Space Cadet trailer
What are the critics saying about Space Cadet?
This kind of light, feel-good, aspirational rom-com can be just the thing for a relaxing evening in – but that doesn’t seem to be the case here. Reviews have been dismal, labelling Space Cadet derivative and predictable. However, Roberts’ charming screwball performance has earned some positive notices. Is it enough to make up for the film’s shortcomings? Unless you’re a devotee of the subgenre or a massive fan of the lead, probably not.
