Film - Ad Astra

It’s quite a long and slow film but I was not reaching to check the time, unlike the guy across the aisle who kept checking his phone. Inevitably it's the phone checkers who rustle their snack packaging during the quieter moments of films - of which there are many in this one.

This is set in a time of commercial travel, so the period we are about to enter. In fact, excellent product placement meant people are on flying on Virgin Galatic. Experienced astronaut Roy McBride is asked to go on a special mission after earth starts experiencing huge power surges threatening all life. 

He is the son of a fearless astronaut (delightful to see Donald Sutherland pop up) who disappeared on a diary mission to Neptune 30 years ago but the powers that be now think he may be alive and behind the power cuts,

We already know this guy can handle himself but can he handle the emotional pressure of seeing his dad and asking him all the questions we’re all asking throughout the film?

Like so many great recent sci-fi films (Arrival, Interstella, Gravity, Moon) this quickly becomes a story about family values and is the better for it.

7½/10