The Space Between Us Movie Review

The Space Between Us is a sci-fi romance starring Asa Butterfield as a teen born on Mars and Britt Robertson as the girl he hopes to meet once he finally travels to Earth. Language is pretty infrequent ("ass," "damn," etc.), and violence is limited to authorities pursuing the teen couple and a crash that causes an explosion (but no deaths). Expect some drinking (a parental figure is shown drunk and surrounded by beer bottles) and a whole lot of romantic tension that culminates in passionate kissing and one love scene (bare shoulders and backs are briefly visible). With themes of courage and teamwork, the movie celebrates the need for connection and friendship. But it's likely to appeal a bit more to teens interested in love stories than anyone in the market for a sci-fi thriller.

The film is directed by Peter Chelsom, actor and director of British cinema characterized for directing films of genre comic and romantic. His first work as a director was the short film "Treacle" (1988), which won a BAFTA nomination and invitations to festivals around the world, including New York. His first feature film was the hit romantic comedy "Hear My Song" (1991), a film about the world of musical theater in London starring Ned Beatty, who won a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of charismatic Irish tenor Josef Locke. His next work was another comedy titled "Funny Bones" (1995). Film star Oliver Platt, Jerry Lewis, Leslie Caron, Freddie Davies, and Lee Evans, who also received excellent reviews in the United States and the rest of the world. His third feature film The Mighty (1998), based on Rodman Philbrick's best-selling novel "Freak the Mighty" starring Sharon Stone, Gillian Anderson, Gena Rowlands and Harry Dean Stanton. The film was nominated for two Golden Globes, Best Supporting Actress (Sharon Stone) and Best Original Song. Two years later he directed "Town & Country" (2001), a comedy that had an excellent cast: Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Andie MacDowell and Goldie Hawn, among others, but nevertheless it was not very well received at the box office and received a razzie award to the worst actress of distribution (Charlton Heston) of between three nominations. However, that same year also directed Serendipity (2001), a romantic comedy starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale that if it was quite successful, raising in the US 54 million dollars. Three years later he directed another successful romantic comedy titled Shall we dance? (2004), a film starring Richard Gere, Jennifer Lopez, Susan Sarandon and Stanley Tucci who raised $ 170 million worldwide. He later directed the Hannah Montana: The Movie (2009), based on the popular Disney Channel series "Hannah Montana" (2006), starring Miley Cyrus. The next film he directed was Hector and the Search for Happiness (2014), a dramatic comedy starring Simon Pegg, Rosamund Pike, Christopher Plummer, Toni Collette, Stellan Skarsgard, and Jean Reno. The film tells the story of a disillusioned psychiatrist traveling the world to investigate what makes people happy.

WHAT'S THE STORY?
THE SPACE BETWEEN US tells the story of the first human born on Mars, a boy named Gardner (Asa Butterfield) who was born and raised in a NASA space station. His mother, an astronaut, had no idea she was pregnant when she led the team of scientists to the Red Planet; she died during childbirth. Sixteen years later, there are more scientists on Mars, but Gardner's only friend his age is someone he met online: an Earth high schooler named Tulsa (Britt Robertson). Desperate to find his father and meet Tulsa, Gardner ignores medical advice that his body won't last in Earth's atmosphere and sets out to find Tulsa. They then head out on a road trip to find the man Gardner assumes is his father.

MOVIE INFO
Rating: PG-13 (for brief sensuality and language)
Genre: Action & Adventure, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Directed By: Peter Chelsom
Written By: Allan Loeb, Peter Chelsom, Tinker Lindsay
In theaters: February 3, 2017
Runtime: 121 minutes
Music by: Andrew Lockington
Studio: STX Entertainment
Cast: Asa Butterfield, Britt Robertson, Carla Gugino, Gary Oldman, BD Wong, Janet Montgomery, Lora Martinez-Cunningham, David House, Luce Rains, Scott Takeda