In this sci fi fantasy, Jim Gaffigan gets to be a little serious. Although known for his comedy, Gaffigan is convincing in more serious dual roles. As Cameron Edwin, he is the failing host of an Ohio Public Access TV science show for kids, but he also plays a younger version of himself who has a lifelong passion to be an astronaut. His persona on TV is somewhat like “Bill Nye the Science Guy ” but his alter ego is better-looking, brash, and a less honest side of himself. Gaffigan handles both roles well.
There are surreal aspects to this story of family, aging, and unfulfilled dreams. Writer/Director Colin West dedicated his film to his grandfather who battled dementia, but also had dreams of blasting off into space.
Watch our interview with West about writing the film and directing Jim Gaffigan when we saw it at SXSW 2022.
West’s storyline takes the audience on a ride from Cameron’s reality into his imagination. First, a red car crashes in front of him while he’s on his daily bike ride. He pulls his young doppelgänger, Kent Armstrong (Gaffigan) out of the wreckage who ends up moving next door. Turns out this younger, former astronaut wants to replace Cameron on TV.
To complicate matters, a lunar capsule falls out of nowhere from space and lands in Cameron’s back yard. The unexplained events continue. Cameron feels they are a sign and his midlife crisis kicks in. He now has a mission to follow his dream before it’s too late. He wants to building his own rockets out of the spare parts that landed fell from the sky and fulfill his dream to be an astronaut.
At the same time Edwin is going through his changes, his wife, Nora (Rhea Seehorn – “Better Call Saul”) is in process of going through hers. She was his co-host on TV, and now works at the local space and science museum. She wants a divorce, looking to change her own trajectory. When their daughter, Nora, (Katelyn Nacon) befriends the son, Marc (Gabriel Rush) of the new next door neighbor, tension rises on all fronts.
To complicate matters, Cameron visits his father, Mac (Roger Hendricks Simon) in an elder living facility and discusses his father’s aging failing health with the pensive Dr. Alvin (Tony Shaloub). West only had Shaloub for one day of shooting, but the actor gave a spot on performance that focuses on the reality of the issue.
West says Gaffigan really got into playing both roles and staying in character. The director says that when he was playing his younger self, he wasn’t much fun to be around. But when he was good old Cameron, he was very jovial and a lot more friendly to everybody. The character that surprisingly gets the most laughs in the film, is Nacon, the sparkling young actress playing Cameron’s daughter that rounds out the cast.
A charming surreal sci-fi fantasy about life’s obstacles. Personal to Director West, and Jim Gaffigan plays dual roles well showing that when the answer to your dream falls from the sky, grab it!
Shout! Studios. 1 hour 41 minutes In Select Theaters
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