You can't beat the star-power of this one... the original four astronauts... potentially... get another chance to reach for the stars as the rescue-mission-team to salvage a crippled Russian "communications satelite" that contains a guidance system designed by Clint Eastwood.

Clint uses the emergency as an opportunity to reunite his former team, Tommy Lee Jones, James Garner, and Donald Sutherland, over 40 years past their replacement in the first space flight by a chimpanzee... for a second chance at what lies outside our atmosphere...

Eastwood faces down his old nemesis, Jones finds love, the satelite turns out to be more than it is represented,
and as you'd expect, the old codgers hold their own with the younger astronauts.

Treachery looms and is averted, disaster rears it's ugly head, but is likewise averted... naturally one of the four stars performs the obligatory, ultimate sacrifice...

This movie looked excellent in previews, and I regretted missing it at the theater. Having now rented the video, I no longer regret paying full price... there was just something lacking... or maybe someTHINGS... most noticably to me was the supposedly deep comraderie from years of friendship... then when only three of the four cowboys ride off into the sunset... (the fourth had ridden into the moonset)... well, they seemed a bit too happy at their success of the mission that cost their friend his remaining months or years!

There are traces of humor, both over-the-top and dark... ESPECIALLY notable were the continual references to an old friend as an "old goat" or some such only to find the "old goat" has been dead for years...

One nice touch, since the geriatric quartet of lead actors would have a hard time looking young with even the greatest make-up job, the movie used actors who were similar in build and bone-structure to play them in the flash-back opening sequences... having the stars voices dubbed over...

Overall I was not satisfied watching this movie... I hoped for far more from the assembled talent... in this particular case they did follow the old axiom...

Shoot for the stars and settle for the moon!

Recommended:
No

Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older