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Ever since the release of Uncut Gems back in 2019, the critically acclaimed hit that cemented Sandler as an actor capable of a lot more than just the comedy that has defined his career since his SNL days, fans have been wondering when the man would take up another role that suits this other side of him. Spaceman has now arrived on earth, specifically Netflix, and appears to be the film that wants to fit that bill.
Based on the novel Spaceman of Bohemia by author Jaroslav Kalfaล, this is not the Adam Sandler that fans of only his comedy work would ever expect and it’s not even the Adam Sandler that fans of his massive, boisterous performance in Uncut Gems will be expecting either, despite this being his “return to dramatic acting.” So what is Spaceman? It’s a slow-burn sci-fi film that seems less interested in exploring the depths of the solar system and more interested in questioning the emotional backstory behind why a human would want to venture that far from anything familiar in the first place.
A Czech Cosmonaut, A Talking Spider, and a Rough Breakup
Spaceman is about a Czech cosmonaut named Jakub, a man sent on a solo mission to explore a mysterious cloud near Jupiter named Chopra. He left behind a pregnant wife, a woman he’s never been able to emotionally disclose himself to, for the sake of this year-long trip to a lonely part of the solar system and back. As he gets close to Chopra, he begins to see a talking spider, whom he’ll later name Hanuลก (Pronounced Hahn-oosh) onboard his ship. He may or may not be hallucinating the spider, but regardless, Hanuลก claims to be a space traveler like Jakub who thinks he can help the Slavic cosmonaut.
While this is a dramatic movie, one which explores the guilt that causes the desire to run and the connections that bring people back home, Spaceman simultaneously isn’t a film that’s afraid to bring some levity through what is clearly its zaniest element, the big talking spider voiced by Paul Dano. Adam Sandler actually winds up taking a comedic backseat, playing the stoic partner to Hanuลก as he whispers chuckle-worthy riffs about hazelnut spread and vibrating toilets. It may feel to some like wasted potential, having Sandler play the role that is primarily devoid of any humor, but he winds up feeling right at home as Jakub Prochรกzka, even if the actual references to this being a Czech astronaut the viewers are following pretty much begin and end at flags of the country decorating the background.
A simple “Na shledanou” would have gone a long way to cementing the separate culture in which this film is supposed to be forged.
Acting, Visuals, and Soundtrack: Understated but Potent
As a reviewer who’s read the Spaceman of Bohemia book that this film is adapted from, it is worth noting that one of the biggest weaknesses of Netflix’s Spaceman, that of a fairly derivative conclusion, only exists due to a change in the source material that unfortunately appears to have been made to give viewers a more “palatable” ending. No spoilers, obviously, but it’s a shame that a sci-fi novel frequently lauded since its release as being a breath of fresh air in the genre was translated into a film that, more than anything, is a nice watch despite its more derivative elements.
Both the visuals and soundtrack of Spaceman on Netflix are refined and clearly crafted to fit the sci-fi aesthetics of the movie like a glove while not breaking any boundaries or announcing themselves in any particularly flashy way. It’s something that can be interpreted as a waste of opportunity, but really seems to assert that this film is more of an emotional dialogue, a My Dinner with Andre-kind of explorative and humorous experience that is far more focused on conversation than spectacle. Those elements may completely turn off some viewers from the experience, seeking something that more quickly gets to the point or more aptly takes advantage of the idea that Adam Sandler is trapped in deep space with a spider.
Spaceman would rather take its time with these ideas and say everything in a hushed tone. It may not work for everyone, but its ultimate message rings true for those willing to hear it out.
