As someone who loves a good love story, finding a unique one always feels like a win to me. The Space Between Us is a romantic drama that combines love and science fiction in a fascinating way.
The story begins sixteen years after astronaut Sarah Elliott tries to make history by living on Mars. Her son, Gardner (played by Asa Butterfield), grows up on Mars without his mother or any friends. Since he was born there, he knows nothing about life on Earth. Sadly, his body can’t handle the trip to Earth, but his curiosity knows no bounds.
When Gardner finds a photo of the man he thinks is his father, he becomes determined to find answers. He hopes that the friend he’s made online can help him in his quest. Finally, when he’s cleared to travel to Earth, he escapes NASA’s watchful eye and searches for Tulsa (played by Britt Robertson), the girl he believes might be his destiny. The story picks up momentum from there.
Discussing The Space Between Us, I find it to be like a well-composed piece of music—quite lovely and underrated, deserving more attention than it gets. The actors are good, and the direction complements the story beautifully. While the plot does stretch reality a bit, that’s a common trait in romance stories.
The story starts off a little slow but never manages to bore. The introduction of Tulsa might seem low-key at first, but it’s fitting for a coming-of-age tale, which this movie essentially is. The strong cast breathes life and personality into the story, making it feel as real and full as possible.
Asa Butterfield plays Gardner wonderfully, and I’ve been consistently impressed by him, even though I tend to forget about him between films. It’s nice seeing Britt Robertson in action again. The rest of the talented cast includes the brilliant Gary Oldman and Carla Gugino, who some may recognize from The Buccaneers.
Overall, The Space Between Us has a bittersweet premise and doesn’t promise a conventional happy ending, but that doesn’t stop the love story from being compelling. Despite a dramatic climax that somewhat overshadows earlier sweet moments, the film is enjoyable. If you’re a fan of the actors or movies like Equals or Upside Down, you’ll likely enjoy this one too.
Content-wise, there’s some mild innuendo and a scene with two teens under a sleeping bag, earning it a PG-13 rating. You can watch it on Netflix, Amazon Video, or iTunes.
Have you seen The Space Between Us? Do you agree with my take on it? What did you think about its romantic, star-crossed lovers’ theme? Share your thoughts below!
