Today’s quick review: The Space Between Us. Gardner Elliot (Asa Butterfield), the first person born on Mars, has had to live his life in secret. His only friend the same age has been Tulsa (Britt Robertson), a foster child living in Colorado. When an experimental medical procedure gives Gardner the chance to visit Earth, he runs away from his caretaker, Dr. Nathaniel Shepherd (Gary Oldman), so he can find Tulsa and set off in search of his father.
The Space Between Us is a teen romantic sci-fi drama about two misfits: a boy from Mars and a girl from Earth. The movie follows Gardner as he overcomes an unfamiliar planet and the limitations of his frail, Mars-adapted body to meet the father he never knew. The Space Between Us turns this premise into a satisfying story, with a well-constructed plot and a sweet teen romance to go with it. Even so, the movie never goes very far beyond the basics.
The Space Between Us has exactly the tools it needs to tell its story. Gardner’s poor health and the hunt for his father give the movie its sense of drama. The pairing of streetwise, cynical Tulsa with naive, earnest Gardner leads to some cute interactions. Asa Butterfield is a good fit for his role, capturing Gardner’s wonder at setting foot on a new planet. The plot is well-structured, building to a suitable climax and then wrapping up neatly.
The movie’s only real failing is that it doesn’t go farther with its premise. The plot has solid fundamentals but ends up being a bit too predictable. The drama comes across as forced in a few places, with a race against time that stems mainly from Gardner’s impatience. The setting is a near-future Earth with a few minor changes, but the movie doesn’t engage in any substantive speculation. In general, The Space Between Us is too cautious.
The Space Between Us is a decent pick for anyone in the mood for a tidy, wholesome romantic adventure. The Space Between Us lacks the creativity to surprise the audience, but it picks a good premise, plays it out with skill, and avoids any glaring mistakes. Those looking for deeper science fiction or a more complicated romance will want to steer clear.
For a more inventive tale of love between worlds, try Upside Down. For a more dramatic movie about space travel, try Interstellar. For a teen sci-fi movie with more action, try I Am Number Four or A.X.L.
6.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for modest but enjoyable teen romance.