SpaceCamp

It's Fun. It's as simple as that. The premise is not actually to far fetched. Who hasn't thought about going into space? And in this the kids get to do it. There are a few "you did it because you're a team" slushy American moments but otherwise it's a great harmless rainy day movie. 8/10

Never had events placed a movie in an untenable situation. According to the Trivia part of IMDb the original premiere was for early in 1986. With the tragedy of the Challenger blowing up the decision to delay the film for a few months wasn't a good idea in hindsight. The premise was about as plausible as having a bunch of Victoria Secret's models fighting over me.

You have a group of kids and a an adult (at least chronically) are placed in a situation where an error with a mathematical probability of being dealt ten consecutive "Royal Flushes" in a straight up poker game. The crew is now forced to apply their knowledge to survive. Oh, did I mention that there isn't enough fuel and oxygen to survive for long? After some improvisation and the only true pilot being out of commission the crew buy some time. When Max the child prodigy of the group damages a satilette he is chided: "Just wait until your parents get the bill." Well, they can deduct from the nine figure checque they'll get from the government. Fortunately there is a happy ending.

This movie was over all good but with the association with the challenger tragedy and being released at the same time as "Karate Kid", and "Top Gun" didn't help the box office.

At a space camp for teenagers looking to play as astronauts for a summer, a group comes together. The team includes a boy who sees it all as silly, a girl who wants to make it to space for real, a ditsy blonde who remembers everything and a kid (Max) who believes he is Luke Skywalker. They fall out and fight and love as all teenagers do until the day when they are allowed to sit in a shuttle during an engine test. A lonely robot wants to help Max get into space and launches the kids for real.

This is very much a film of two halves. The first half is the usual teenage issue stuff mixed with some fantasy. The characters fight, moan, make out, hate authority etc. This is all quite dull but it livens up in the second half. When they get launched into space we actually get some real dram – even if it is a bit silly and very unrealistic. The story is OK and has some nice lines – `I'm waiting for ET's – can you imagine waiting for signs of intelligence?' one teen says `I know the feeling' comes the reply! However the worst bits revolve about robot Jinx – the jar-jar Binks of his time (he even sounds a bit like him!). Jinx is just for the kids and his scenes with Max are horribly cute and sugary.

The rest of the cast are so-so. Skerrit and Chapsaw are good as the adults and they don't give the impression that this is below them. The teens however could easily have doen without names and just be called the stereotype they represent. A very young Joaquin Phoenix (then called Leaf) is the cute kid Max and made me want to slap him every time he came on screen. Thompson is the eager beaver who learns to relax. Tate Donovan is poor as the `too cool for school' rich kid in the group. Kelly Preston is actually good as the ditzy one who is really smart and Scott covers all bases by being `the black one' but he isn't given anything to do other than that.

Overall both halves of the film have good things and bad things – but overall it is quite enjoyable and kids will love it without noticing the poor back projection and the rubbish Jinx.

I've watched this more times than I can count, and my family has owned it since before I can remember. I like this movie for that reason, also it was the first step towards movies like Apollo 13. Isn't it funny all the future stars that are in this movie? Kelly Preston, Lea Thompsan (well, she did already have Back 2 the future) Tate Donovan, Joaquin Phoenix....

Watching this movie again really brought back some great childhood memories . I'm 34 now, have not seen it since I was 12-14. I had almost forgotten about this movie, but when I watched it again recently, some scenes literally brought a tear to my eye! That little robot "Jinx"(friends forever!). It was just like revisiting my childhood. It was an absolutely amazing experience for me. I will always cherish this movie for that reason. I can't believe that was Joaquim Phoenix as a kid. I'm addicted to 80's movies now. I can't get enough of them. Thanks a lot Space Camp. Friends forever. Jinx is still the best "80s movie robot" ever. I named my cat Jinx.