A Smile as Big as the Moon

2012 "A special education teacher, his class, and their inspiring journey through U.S. space camp."
7.7| 1h35m| PG| en
Details

Mike Kersjes is a special-education teacher and football coach in Michigan. Mike doesn’t talk down to his "special" students. He respects them, and he believes they’re capable of achieving great things. When Mike hears about Space Camp, a competitive education program at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, he gets an idea. Even though the program is designed for gifted science students, Mike decides participating in the summer program would do wonders for the self-esteem of his young students, one in particular who wants to be an astronaut.

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Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions

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Reviews

MamaGravity good back-story, and good acting
Lancoor A very feeble attempt at affirmatie action
Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.
Rexanne It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny
Chelsea Monroe Hi All, My Name is Chelsea Monroe, I am 23 years old, When I was born all those years ago, my parents were soo happy to be having a little baby girl, but when I couldn't talk, when I should have;they thought it was very abnormal. When I was four I started to talk and even then I was put into Speech Therapy Classes.My School Years were very hard with a Reading, Writing, Math Disabilities. I remember having my shoes tied together and many others picking on me. I also remember hearing some teachers telling my parents that "If I graduate High School it would be a Miracle".Even to this day its still a struggle to over come my disabilities but I push through and have graduated from High School, taken a few years of College before I left Michigan to live and work at Disney World here in Orlando, FL as a Photographer. When people meet me they might brush me off as weird, but when they get to know me and find out I had went through this they are very surprised that I overcame a Disability, even that I had one.Why I thought this movie was great was because its a movie about Special Education that is meaningful and shows that Smiles are as big as the moon and you can do anything you set your mind too......just look at me :) -Chelsea
Funandsun When a special needs high school class goes on a rare field trip there is disaster. The following may be considered a spoiler. The principal says the class will no longer be allowed to go on field trips. But at the failed field trip a brochure for Space Camp had already captured the imagination of a student and one of their teachers. Not only will the trip cost $50,000.00 but the principal, Space Camp, and other students don't think they can handle it. The next 10 months the class prepares for the trip of a life time. Filled with the daily bullying faced by children with special needs the students over come low expectations to surprise, delight, and change attitudes. While some of the dialogue from the adults seems stilted but real the students are totally real and deliver great performances. Limited by TV time the actions still flows well and keeps the story alive until a triumphant finish.
astymegoesby I saw an advert for this movie in a few magazines and I was psyched to see this movie.It did not air on Hallmark channel as advertised, and aired on the ABC Network.The movie is 2 hours long (separated by commercials) - broken up into 3 parts.Part one: Introductions to the cast members, their respective illnesses, ADD ADHD, etc... The actors were horrible and at times insensitive.Part two: Raising money for Space Camp which the wanted to go.. After a few weeks of striking out trying to raise $50,000, this burger guy just hands a check for 50K.. PREDICTABLE Part three: Space Camp, loosely interpreted, the kids experience the full-range of what space camp has to offer and of course during their mission something goes wrong.. Someone panics,, its OK... they land, win an award and everyone is wonderful.WASTE OF TIME! TOTAL GARBAGE. You want to watch a movie about space camp... GO WATCH THE REAL "SPACE CAMP"
pudgebrownie A Smile as Big as the Moon is truly an inspirational, entertaining and thought provoking movie. If you've ever felt different or not-quite-good-enough, you might relate to the challenges this group of kids endure on a daily basis, and you'll be touched by the leaps and bounds achievable with a big imagination and a big heart. This film has a great cast of young actors that do an incredible job of portraying the successes attainable through teamwork, friendship, dedication and a sense of self worth.I watched this movie twice in two days, once with my husband and the other time with my daughter. There are a lot of great lessons to be learned and shared. I highly recommend this movie.