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"THE ASTRONAUT FARMER" (2007) (Billy Bob Thornton, Virginia Madsen) (PG) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Minor Mild Moderate Moderate Moderate Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild Minor Minor None Moderate Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Moderate None Heavy Moderate Mild QUICK TAKE: Drama: A former astronaut must face and overcome various obstacles as he tries to launch his own rocket into orbit. PLOT: Charles Farmer (BILLY BOB THORNTON) was once an aspiring astronaut with dreams of traveling into Earth's orbit. A family situation, however, forced him to leave the agency and now he's a farmer living with his supportive wife Audie (VIRGINIA MADSEN) and their three kids, teenager Shepard (MAX THIERIOT) and his younger sisters Sunshine (LOGAN POLISH) and Stanley (JASPER POLISH). Audie's father, Hal (BRUCE DERN), also lives with them. Yet, Charles can't get the thought of outer space out of his blood, so he's taken matters into his own hands by building his own rocket in his barn. His passion, however, has not only put a partial strain on his marriage, but also a greater one on the family finances. Things get even worse when a variety of federal officials show up once they get wind of his rocket building. Fearing that he's potentially a terrorist, the likes of FAA Head Honcho Jacobson (J.K. SIMMONS), FBI Agents Killbourne (JON GRIES) and Mathis (MARK POLISH), and a host of others descend upon his farm and the nearby small town. Even a current astronaut (BRUCE WILLIS) shows up to try to convince Charles that the feds won't let him fly. Undeterred, but needing help, Charles contacts local lawyer Kevin Munchak (TIM BLAKE NELSON) who makes a few calls, resulting in the press also showing up. From that point on, and with money running out and family tensions mounting, Charles must overcome a variety of obstacles as he tries to pursue his goal of launching himself into orbit. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? If they're enticed by the sound of the story, they just might. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG For thematic material, peril and language. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: BILLY BOB THORNTON plays a former astronaut turned farmer, a soft-spoken but determined man who's built a rocket to launch himself into orbit. His obsession threatens his family's finances, while also putting a strain on his marriage to Audie. He drinks some. VIRGINIA MADSEN plays his wife, a waitress who's initially supportive if concerned about his quest, but then progressively becomes tired of what it's doing to them and their family. MAX THIERIOT plays their 15-year-old son who serves as his dad's flight control manager. LOGAN POLISH and JASPER POLISH play his younger sisters who sense the tension among their parents. BRUCE DERN plays Audie's father who lives with them and assists Charles in his rocket building. TIM BLAKE NELSON plays a local lawyer who assists Charles. JON GRIES and MARK POLISH play FBI agents assigned to watch Charles and make sure he doesn't try to launch his rocket. J.K. SIMMONS plays the director of the FAA who informs Charles that they won't allow him to launch. BRUCE WILLIS plays an astronaut who visits Charles and is impressed by his work, but tries to convince him that the feds won't allow the flight. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a brief summary of the content found in this drama that's been rated PG. Profanity consists of at least 3 "s" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are uttered. Some sexually related dialogue and innuendo are also present. A malfunctioning rocket launch results in some property damage and the pilot being badly injured (with some bloody cuts). That scene and a few others might be suspenseful to some viewers. Various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, while tense family material includes a strained marriage as well as a family death. Finally, some brief drinking occurs. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, we see both the POV views on a spinning ride, as well as static shots of those on it where the background appears to be spinning around. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Charles and an astronaut have beer. Charles and the sheriff have beer. BLOOD/GORE A silhouetted view of various male federal agents standing in a line suggests they were urinating (we see them bend their legs as if zipping up -- all from a distance). As Charles tries to get a farmer to advertise on his rocket, the man asks what if Charles' mission "goes to sh*t," pointing out that he already has manure. Charles has some bloody cuts on his face following the crash of his rocket. Some time after his accident, Charles has dried cuts/scars on his face. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE A brick suddenly blasts through a plate glass window at the bank (thrown by Charles, angry about the foreclosure on his house). Charles takes his kids out of school to be his space team, stating they'll learn more with him than at school (some will view that as a bad attitude). We hear that Charles' hired help is an illegal immigrant. Some viewers might not like when Charles is asked how the authorities don't know he's building a WMD (weapon of mass destruction). He replies that if he were, they wouldn't be able to find it (a presumed jab at the presidential administration in such regards). Charles' dream is rather selfish, putting his life in danger (and thus potentially widowing his wife and kids) as well as that of their finances. The feds are portrayed as having bad attitudes for trying to stop Charles' efforts. FRIGHTENING SCENES The feds arrive and surround Charles' farm. An FAA official warns Charles that if he tries to launch his rocket, the military will shoot it down. **SPOILER ALERT** Audie's daughter informs everyone that Hal won't wake up, so Audie goes to check and finds her father dead. We then see a funeral scene for him. Charles tries to launch his rocket before scheduled, knocking Audie to the floor in their house and causing some damage to it, but the rocket malfunctions and scoots along the ground at ultra high speed, causing other property damage and nearly hitting some people who duck out of the way. The rocket then crashes, sending Charles' capsule crashing hard to the ground (leaving him injured with various broken bones and then in the hospital). Officials aim shotguns and handguns at a man after pulling him over, believing he's Charles. Charles' family worries about him after his launch, especially when they lose radio contact for a while (and fear he's going to run out of oxygen before returning due to his loss of power). There's some brief tension when he starts his reentry ("fire" outside the capsule due to friction, etc.), but he safely lands. GUNS/WEAPONS Charles shoots an air gun at a carnival game. Officials aim shotguns and handguns at a man after pulling him over, believing he's Charles. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "You're sh*tting me, right?" "Sh*t creek" (seen written on a paddle), "If your whole mission goes to sh*t," "You guys are loopy in the morning," "It's gonna take a hell of a lot more than gunpowder to get this in the air," "What the hell happened to you?" "Jeez," "Whatever they damn well please," "Holy cow," "Nut" (crazy person), "We're gonna look like asses," "More of an astro-nut," "Space cadets," "One sad-ass day," "Idiots," "I'm not gonna sit here like a potted plant," "Stupid" and "Now we look like asses." While not to the same extent, some kids might be inspired to build and launch their own rockets. JUMP SCENES A brick suddenly blasts through a plate glass window at the bank (thrown by Charles, angry about the foreclosure on his house). The sudden launch of the rocket might startle some viewers. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A bit of dramatically suspenseful music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 3 "s" words (1 written), 1 slang term for sex ("laid"), 6 asses, 5 hells, 2 damns, 2 S.O.B.s and 1 use each of "My God" and "Oh my God" (with a possible use of "G-damn"). SEX/NUDITY As Charles drops off Audie at her waitress job, she asks if her favorite customer is coming in, he asks about getting a cup of coffee, and she playfully responds that it depends on how that's going to be paid back (presumably a bit of sexual innuendo). Charles kisses Audie in bed and she rolls over for more of that, but then says he didn't shower and smells like the rocket, so nothing else happens. Charles is ordered to see a psychiatrist, and that turns out to be the school one who used to be his girlfriend. She half-jokingly comments on his desire to leave the planet. He then reminds her of asking her at their prom if she wanted to go to the moon. Slightly embarrassed, she says, "That was just about getting laid." Audie's coworker, Phyllis, asks Audie about Charles' rocket. Her questions are legitimate, but the joke on the part of the film is that they sound sexual, such as Phyllis asking if Audie has seen it, and if it's big. Later, when Phyllis sees it launch, she's astonished and says, "It's so huge." SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES We hear that Charles' father died in the past (which is why Charles left the space program), and then later hear that it was via suicide (this is brought up again, including brief talk of its lingering aftermath on Charles). Child protection services shows up to talk to Audie about their children not being in school. Audie tries to use her credit card, but the charge is declined. She then learns of their financial problems, leading to a verbal fight in front of the kids (she initially wants them to listen, but the parents then have the kids leave as they continue to argue). During this, she throws a plate at him and then another to the floor. **SPOILER ALERT** Audie's daughter informs everyone that Hal won't wake up, so Audie goes to check and finds her father dead. We then see a funeral scene for him. There's more talk about the previous suicide of Charles' father and the aftermath of that act. Audie worries about Charles when he's unconscious and on a respirator in the hospital following his failed rocket launch. Audie states that without the rocket (and all that goes with it), they're just a dysfunctional family. Charles' family worries about him after his launch, especially when they lose radio contact for a while (and fear he's going to run out of oxygen before returning due to his loss of power). There's some brief tension when he starts his reentry ("fire" outside the capsule due to friction, etc.), but he safely lands. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Whether someone could actually build a rocket in a barn that could make it into orbit. The federal response to such a plan. Charles takes his kids out of school to be his space team, stating they'll learn more with him than at school. There's talk of the Patriot Act in relation to what Charles is trying to do. We hear that Charles' hired help is an illegal immigrant. We hear that Charles' father died in the past (which is why Charles left the space program), and then later hear that it was via suicide (this is brought up again, including brief talk of its lingering aftermath on Charles). Child protection services shows up to talk to Audie about their children not being in school. Charles commenting that somewhere along the way we stopped believing, adding that if we don't have a dream, we don't have anything. We hear that Charles' house will be foreclosed on in one week. Audie states that without the rocket (and all that goes with it), they're just a dysfunctional family. VIOLENCE A brick suddenly blasts through a plate glass window at the bank (thrown by Charles, angry about the foreclosure on his house). While mad at Charles for endangering their financial well-being, Audie throws a plate at him and then another to the floor. Charles tries to launch his rocket before scheduled, knocking Audie to the floor in their house and causing some damage to it, but the rocket malfunctions and scoots along the ground at ultra high speed, causing other property damage and nearly hitting some people who duck out of the way. The rocket then crashes, sending Charles' capsule crashing hard to the ground (leaving him injured with various broken bones and then in the hospital). Reviewed January 22, 2007 / Posted February 23, 2007

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