Following dreams in ‘Astronaut Farmer’

Sometimes, wives in Hollywood movies are too pretty.

That’s one of my first impressions in watching “The Astronaut Farmer,” starring Billy Bob Thornton as Charles Farmer, a scientific genius who couldn’t make it as an astronaut, but decides to build a rocket on his own.
In one way, it’s nice to see a movie about a dreamer, a person with determination and grit. As wild as it seems to others, Farmer is determined to reach his goal.
But the Farmer character is a bit of a flake, a character. A lot of this film is difficult to believe, one of them being this guy could be married to someone as good looking as Virginia Madsen. She seems too smart and engaging to be going along with his dream.
To be realistic, Billy Bob needs a slightly older, dowdier, less pretty wife.
Farmer is focused on what he wants to do, build a rocket and fly in space. He sees it as inevitable and is methodical and serious about his goal.
He meets with an individual to buy fuel for his endeavor. When the man tells him it will cost $50,000, Farmer nods his head as if there is no problem. You get the impression he’s a millionaire.
But next we seem him, he’s at the bank trying to get his umpteenth mortgage on his farm house, being perfectly honest about what he needs it for. The banker, an old friend, tells Billy Bob’s character he is mortgaged to the hilt and needs to abandon his dream.
This is small town and rural, but from a Hollywood perspective. When the bank serves foreclosure papers, Farmer’s answer is to throw a brick through the bank’s window.
The judge decides he needs counseling. Now if you were a Hollywood screenwriter, where would you figure a person in an agricultural area would get therapy? Why, from the high school nurse, of course.
The FBI gets wind of his plan because of the attempted fuel sale and the government sets up hearings on the proposed launch.
When the FBI gets wind, the media isn’t far behind. That’s when the circus really begins.
The highlight of the film is an aborted launch. Until this point, the film sort of plods along. But then, wow. Excellent special effects.
Bruce Willis plays a retired astronaut who plays along with Farmer until the Willis character realizes he is serious.
Particularly good as Thornton’s 15-year-old son is Max Thierlot, who plays his part subtly.
Crusty Bruce Dern plays Hal, Virginia Madsen’s father in the film. Hal proves the savior for the Farmer family’s finances.
Hardly gripping, much of this film can be watched while doing a puzzle or reading e-mail. There are a few places you want to put whatever you are doing down to watch.
“Astronaut Farmer” is at least worth a rental. There are some tense moments. There’s some excitement.
It is nice to see a film where someone has dreams and a goal beyond visiting a bar and picking up chicks, the theme of too many films.
ASTRONAUT FARMER
• Directed by Michael Polish
• Rated PG for thematic material, peril and language
• 104 minutes
• 2 1/2 stars out of four