Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood

Netflix | Release Date: March 25, 2022

7.1	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 43 Ratings

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JLuis_001Apr 1, 2022

Nostalgia, pure simple and resonantly compelling. Perhaps I'm not so sure to what extent it will be for those who can't really appreciate what its story is talking about, especially younger audiences. Coupled with the fact that basically theNostalgia, pure simple and resonantly compelling. Perhaps I'm not so sure to what extent it will be for those who can't really appreciate what its story is talking about, especially younger audiences. Coupled with the fact that basically the entire film is narrated by a voiceover, it may not be very exciting or stimulating for some, but for what it's worth, I found it quite competent.

Even when its plot takes its absurdist turn, the film doesn't become less or so, because it's part of the journey.

It certainly never builds to anything substantial let alone a thrilling climax, because after all this is basically a kind of intimate and personal essay for its director rather than a story that many can connect with, but that also adds enough to its vision to make it suitably interesting.

It won't sum anything to Linklater's career, but at least it's the film I've enjoyed the most from him since Boyhood. Especially after the super disappointing Where'd You Go, Bernadette.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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NobodyYouKnowApr 4, 2022

Your enjoyment of this movie will probably depend largely on your age and how much you were expecting a space story. I'm several years younger than the protagonist, Stan, but I still remember enough about the time period to enjoy theYour enjoyment of this movie will probably depend largely on your age and how much you were expecting a space story. I'm several years younger than the protagonist, Stan, but I still remember enough about the time period to enjoy the references to late '60s America. And while I was expecting this to be more space-centric, I wasn't bothered by the fact that visiting the moon was merely the backdrop for a warm-hearted, nostalgic look at family and coming of age.

The absurd premise -- that NASA gets a 10-year-old to fly to the moon *without* anyone (including his parents) knowing -- is laid out early, so you can decide right away whether you wanna go along for the ride. If you go along, you'll quickly realize that the space trip isn't the point. Stan's recollections about coming of age during a magical time in American history are delivered by the narrator with a cozy familiarity that belies the absurd premise. And I found myself smiling almost the entire time.

I think the choice to animate over live-action only helped this film. The slightly surreal look supports the surreal story -- putting a perfectly normal kid in a preposterous situation but somehow making the situation feel normal. The acting feels very natural, and there's easy comedy that comes from lots of regular, real-life moments. In particular, Stan's mom's occasional, blunt outbursts made me giggle.

Apollo 10½ just made me feel good, and if you were alive during the late '60s or even early '70s, you'll probably also feel good watching it.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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shoulderoforionApr 2, 2022

This was a lovely valentine to Linklatters childhood, you can almost taste the longing for a simpler time when anything seemed possible because the impossible was being achieved litteraly all the time. About halfway through though if you'reThis was a lovely valentine to Linklatters childhood, you can almost taste the longing for a simpler time when anything seemed possible because the impossible was being achieved litteraly all the time. About halfway through though if you're anything like me, you start to realize everyone is white, and that institutionalized racism of 1960's Houston is the unnamed cast member of not only this film, it's subjects, but the entire country.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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bertobellamyApr 5, 2022

Just like Alfonso Cuarón, Pedro Almodóvar, Paolo Sorrentino, or Kenneth Branagh — the latter not that brilliantly as the others — Richard Linklater looks into his past — one obsessed with the future in every way — to conceive aJust like Alfonso Cuarón, Pedro Almodóvar, Paolo Sorrentino, or Kenneth Branagh — the latter not that brilliantly as the others — Richard Linklater looks into his past — one obsessed with the future in every way — to conceive a nostalgia-heavy film about the yearning hidden — or lack of it — in everyday life. I loved the first part, where Stanley, our main character, spends his time with his numerous family and his schoolmates, and just being an ordinary middle-class boy in the suburbs. Almost all of the film is narrated — yes, that is Jack Black speaking —, but it never gets annoying; instead, the commentary is very insightful and explains some things we foreigners or younger people didn't live. All those scenes about old movies and tv series are going to amaze everyone obsessed with pop culture.

The second part loses some of its appeal, making you enter into a dream world we've seen so many times. But as the recent 'Summer of Soul' documentary, the film focuses on why some people and other minorities couldn't care less about the Moon landing, and that's something worth exploring.

'Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood' is a fun ride with little to tell about space travel — and, obviously, it was not the point —, but a lot about living in somewhat simpler times.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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FelipePedro07Aug 23, 2022

Very good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!