by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Did you know that acclaimed director Richard Linklater had a new film on Netflix? Until the past week… I didn’t. A whole article could be written about the horrible marketing of Netflix content, but now that we know that Apollo 10 ½ is an actual thing, it is time to get excited. Linklater heads back to his Texas roots and childhood wonder by telling the tale of a young man from the Houston area dreaming of going to space. But this time… it’s animated! Like A Scanner Darkly, Linklater layers over his cast and world with an animated sheen to deliver an engaging and entertaining tale of youth and dreams.
Does Linklater offer up something fresh from the combination of familiar elements? Apollo 10 ½ is truly A Space Age Childhood. The film works on two distinct levels — one, a story of a young man told from the perspective of his older self, and two, an abstract journey that sees a young boy train and go into space. These two elements land on different levels. The coming-of-age elements feel more natural for Linklater and are thoroughly entertaining. The space elements feel a bit scattered leading to this section of the film feeling less impactful and cohesive. The animation does allow Linklater to make the most of the space elements, delivering some wonderful and moving moments.
What makes this film hit in such an impactful way? Nostalgia. There are few directors who can channel nostalgia in such a genuine way. Films like Dazed and Confused and Everybody Wants Some!! capture the time they are set so well. Apollo 10 ½ shares that distinction by fully embracing the pop culture of lifestyles of the 1960s. There are so many wonderful moments that channel Linklater’s love for film and music. This might be a bit much for some, but this deeply connected with me, who is a huge cinephile as well as a lover of music from the period. The screenplay also channels relatable and endearing familial moments that speak so well to the universal human experience. All this lands even better thanks to the committed and subtle work of Jack Black, who narrates this boy’s childhood.
Do the daydreaming elements work as effectively as the rest of the film? Not so much. For a good half of the film, they are more like confusing distractions from the main plot and themes. This is a rare storytelling shortcoming from Linklater, who unfortunately has not put out his best work as of late. This is certainly an improvement over Where’d You Go, Bernadette though. As the film goes on, the space elements feel more natural and smoother in their handling. Zachary Levi and Glen Powell are both talented, actors but they are underutilized as two NASA men recruiting our young protagonist.
Does Apollo 10 ½ put Linklater back on the right trajectory and soar? In many ways, yes. When Black is guiding the audience through this genuine and endearing childhood experience, it is thoroughly entertaining and meaningful. There are some special moments in this enjoyable film that will make an easy watch over on Netflix. Linklater has a strong offering which gets him back in the win column.
Score: 8/10
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