Space Station 76

Space Station 76 is directed by Jack Plotnick, who is also a co-writer and whose intimacy with the material is quite evident. The  film is going to quickly become a festival favorite.  Elegantly combining 70’s style, Science Fiction and Comedy, the film entertains from start to finish. 

Space Station 76 is a refueling satellite in a distant galaxy and with the arrival of the newly appointed lieutenant, the crews secrets begin to surface.  The creative team does a beautiful job setting this story in a believable 70’s interpretation of all things space, and this setting is certainly a big part of the comedic angle of this film.  Plotnick said that he has been contemplating on this idea for many many years, he wanted to explore 1970’s suburbia – but in space, and certainly many of the struggles of the characters resonate as familiar troubles of everyday life – just in a very exaggerated way.

The other contributor to the success of the film is the standout acting of the cast including Matt Bomer as a sincerely mechanic, Ted, whose wife Misty played by Marisa Coughlan is self-centered and distant.  Liv Tyler, does wonders as the sweet, warm and lovely new lieutenant/co-pilot, Jessica and Patrick Wilson as Captain Glenn, who has some deeply closeted struggles of his own. Jerry O’Connell cameos and quickly steals almost all of his scenes as a philandering playboy. Also a highlight are several robots who function among the crew.

Plotnick captures the right tone and stays true to it throughout the film, a tone that while making you laugh also allows you moments to reflect. It certainly feel like a movie that the cast and crew enjoyed making, it is quirky, slow and times, and completely delightful.

4 out of 5 Stars 

Directed by Jack Plotnick

Produced by Rival Pictures

Written by Jack Plotnick
Jennifer Elise Cox
Sam Pancake
Kali Rocha
Michael Stoyanov

Starring Patrick Wilson
Liv Tyler
Matt Bomer
Marisa Coughlan
Kylie Rogers
Kali Rocha
Jerry O’Connell
Keir Dullea

Running time: 93 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English