“The Space Between Us” can’t decide whether it’s science fiction or young adult romance.
STARS: 2/5
The film tells the story of Gardner Elliot (Asa Butterfield), a boy born on Mars, who suffers from an enlarged heart. His condition prevents him from coming to Earth because he would not survive on in Earth’s atmosphere. If that doesn’t confuse you, then “The Space Between Us” might be your kind of film.
The problem with this movie is that there is too much science that isn’t explicitly explained, and that, at other times, there’s too much romance, which just isn’t believable.
Butterfield’s ability to be plain awkward is the central trait of his character, and although he’s grown up around humans, he somehow has no idea how to speak to them once he’s on Earth.
Another issue with this film is the bizarre acting choices by both Gary Oldman and Britt Robertson. Oldman plays the aging scientist Nathaniel Shepard and he spends the majority of the film running around and yelling a lot.
After an hour of watching him chase Elliot around Earth, I was exhausted and ready for the twist ending, which any viewer could see coming from miles away.
Robertson plays Butterfield’s Earth-born love interest, Tulsa, and she’s about as clichéd a character as they come.
Tulsa is a troubled foster child who longs to run away. She drives a motorcycle, plays piano, and has no-nonsense personality for about five minutes before she decides to fall madly in love with Elliot.
The real shame is that “The Space Between Us” has an interesting premise, but, unfortunately, writer Allen Loeb utilizes tired romantic-comedy tropes, mind boggling made-up science and does nothing to make the viewer emotionally attached to any character.
The script is disgustingly sweet, and though the film runs for less than two hours, I felt like I was in the theater for an eternity.
Overall, “The Space Between Us” is a great idea executed as poorly as possible.