Space Cowboys Details

Houston, we have another problem. But, unlike the factual Apollo 13, director/producer/star Clint Eastwood's self-deprecating and winningly indulgent cosmic adventure is a complete macho-fuelled fantasy set in the ultra-realistic world of Nasa operations today. With an irresistible premise — four geriatric astronauts finally get the chance to go into orbit 40 years after being sidelined by a monkey — this slice of gung-ho wish-fulfilment is an entertaining feel-good pleasure. Eastwood's Team Daedalus is called back into service because no other has the obsolete knowledge to prevent a Cold-War era Russian telecommunications satellite from crashing to Earth. There's absolutely no point in taking anything seriously in this hi-tech Peter Pan fable. Even the space-set climax, brilliantly constructed by Star Wars supremo George Lucas's company (Industrial Light and Magic) from actual photographs, space shuttle footage, miniatures and digital animation, lacks any real thrills or suspense because the outcome is obvious from the start. But Eastwood and his space-aged company shine as the ageing astronauts wheezing through basic training, navigating past feuds and becoming all-American heroes as co-stars Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland and James Garner also reveal the right stuff as well as the true meaning of star charisma and career longevity.

Affable action movie that gives some familiar actors a chance to strut their stuff and play slightly comic variations on their usual roles.