Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood

Name: Apollo 10½: A Space Age Childhood
Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi, Drama, Animation, Family
Released: March 25, 2022
Duration: 97 min
Rating: 79
Cast: Bill Wise, Brian Villalobos, Danielle Guilbot, Glen Powell, Jack Black

2022

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 39 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 42 Ratings

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7.0	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 42 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date: March 25, 2022 | PG-13

Starring: Bill Wise, Brian Villalobos, Danielle Guilbot, Glen Powell, Jack Black, Jennifer Griffin, Jessica Brynn Cohen, Josh Wiggins, Lee Eddy, Milo Coy, Mona Lee Fultz, Natalie L'Amoreaux, Nick Stevenson, Sam Chipman, Samuel Davis, Zachary Levi

Movie Facts:

Streaming on Netflix April 1, 2022.

Summary: Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood tells the story of the first moon landing in the summer of 1969 from two interwoven perspectives – the astronaut and mission control view of the triumphant moment, and through the eyes of a kid growing up in Houston, Texas who has intergalactic dreams of his own. Taking inspiration from AcademyApollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood tells the story of the first moon landing in the summer of 1969 from two interwoven perspectives – the astronaut and mission control view of the triumphant moment, and through the eyes of a kid growing up in Houston, Texas who has intergalactic dreams of his own. Taking inspiration from Academy Award-nominated® filmmaker Richard Linklater’s own life, Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood is a snapshot of American life in the 1960s that is part coming of age, part societal commentary, and part out-of-this-world adventure. [Netflix]… Expand

Director: Richard Linklater

Genre(s): Adventure, Sci-Fi, Drama, Animation, Family

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 97 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

David Jenkins

Apr 12, 2022

Apollo 10 ½ is about the subjective intimacy of history, and how all events are just an equally-sized, vibrantly-coloured fragment in the kaleidoscope of our mind. Read full review

Jordan Hoffman

Mar 28, 2022

An essentially plotless but engaging and enriching recollection of childhood steeped in warmth, grace, honesty, and crystalline specificity. Read full review

David Rooney

Mar 13, 2022

It’s clearly a labor of love, a unique reflection on an unforgettable summer, inviting us to share in a moment of communal spirit which now seems to belong to another world. Read full review

Peter Debruge

Mar 13, 2022

Turns out, this movie isn’t so much about space as it is about time travel, or more specifically, taking Linklater and his followers back more than half a century. Read full review

A.O. Scott

Mar 31, 2022

Apollo 10½ is more a modest memoir than a whiz-bang space epic. Its view of the past is doggedly rose-colored, with social and emotional rough edges smoothed away by the passage of time and the filmmaker’s genial temperament. Read full review

Lindsey Bahr

Mar 30, 2022

As with most Linklater joints, it’s so sincere and so sweetly true that you can’t really fault it for not reinventing the wheel. Just like a story that your parents have told or maybe you’ve told a million times before, it’s comforting. Read full review

Wendy Ide

Apr 4, 2022

Unfortunately, it becomes clear that the film is all backdrop, a boomer nostalgia trip with little in the way of actual story. Read full review

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User Reviews

NobodyYouKnow

Apr 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 the references to late '60s America. And while I was expectingYour 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

Dunkaccino

May 25, 2022

Every scene is beautiful, and Linklater clearly knows this, because the first hour is slow-paced, but it's worth it.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

alanpotter17

Nov 9, 2022

Linklater sabe como ninguém captar o espírito de uma época, e aqui a animação está no ritmo certo, diverte e chega a emocionar. Tudo é feito num capricho que fica difícil não embarcar nessa viagem com a família de Stan, mesmo que um ou outro personagens sofram de certo desenvolvimento, éLinklater sabe como ninguém captar o espírito de uma época, e aqui a animação está no ritmo certo, diverte e chega a emocionar. Tudo é feito num capricho que fica difícil não embarcar nessa viagem com a família de Stan, mesmo que um ou outro personagens sofram de certo desenvolvimento, é sobre o contexto histórico que o filme tem mais a dizer.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

alejandro970

Apr 22, 2022

With an animation style that is related to live action, it is a vintage portrait of a historical moment from a point of view from a child, with a certain flavor of nostalgia. The result is quite good if it weren't for the fact that the final development feels slow.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

NickTheCritick

Apr 23, 2022

An animated film based on the personal memories of director Richard Linklater and focusing on the first moon landing. A nostalgic film about childhood memories, about the family, about what unties and keeps it together but above all a nostalgic film of an era, perhaps the most told byAn animated film based on the personal memories of director Richard Linklater and focusing on the first moon landing. A nostalgic film about childhood memories, about the family, about what unties and keeps it together but above all a nostalgic film of an era, perhaps the most told by cinematographic art.
Very beautiful, delicate and intense animated film by Linklater who once again proves to be one of the most versatile directors of today.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

JLuis_001

Apr 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 the entire film is narrated by a voiceover, it may notNostalgia, 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

MetacriticOnur

Apr 1, 2022

bad
[ bad ]

adjective, worse, worst;(Slang) bad·der, bad·dest for 36.
not good in any manner or degree.

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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