ChanBot i must have seen a different film!!

Spidersecu Don't Believe the Hype

Hadrina The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Aneesa Wardle The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

jarrodmcdonald-1 A few nights ago I watched THE RELUCTANT ASTRONAUT on Starz. Let's be frank, shall we? Don Knotts was hardly an American version of Laurence Olivier (he wasn't meant to be). I'd never seen this film before. In fact, aside from his TV sitcom work, I think the only film I'd ever seen him in was THE INCREDIBLE MR. LIMPET since TCM aired it a few times. I wasn't impressed with LIMPET, and since I feel he's only ever playing variations of Barney Fife (including Ralph Furley), I wasn't expecting much when I sat down to watch RELUCTANT ASTRONAUT.I have to admit it was pretty tough going. At around 100 minutes, the film is simply too long, padded with filler and the dialogue is atrocious. The main idea about a guy mistaken to be an astronaut is a gag that could have been done in twenty minutes. They stretch it out by having NASA choose him, the most unlikely of candidates, to go into outer space after all. Then we get the last sequence where he's in space, things malfunction and he eventually returns home safely (and gets the girl!). The whole thing was implausible, utterly ridiculous. Could I have called it dumb or stupid? Sure. Did I do that? No. Because a light bulb went on and it suddenly occurred to me that I was not the intended audience. This is a kids' movie. Not for kids of today probably, but for kids in 1967. That was Don Knotts' audience, and those are the people Universal was selling tickets to, by making and releasing this film. So on that level, as harmless entertainment for children, it works. He's not Olivier, this is not Hamlet, and so what.

thejcowboy22 Another classic choice by the staff at Camp Ma-Ho-Ge in Upstate New York for Thursday movie night for all those bored campers from Long Island and New Rochelle, New York. While all the hippies and yippies assembled down the road for a three day rockfest called Woodstock. Us unfortunate campers watched these cheesy light comedies to pass the early evenings away. The Reluctant Astronaut is about an amusement park ride operator(Roy Fleming) played by the very timid and acrophobia laden Don Knotts. Clad in full Astronaut attire Roy Operates a space capsule ride with a bunch of children seated around him as he announces the destinations of deep space complete with meteor shower as outside the capsule the venerable Burt Mustin throws rocks at the space ride for full effect. Our journey from space end abruptly as Pamelyn Ferdin whispers to Roy, "I have to go to the bathroom." Quickest landing in history. Roy is so deathly afraid of heights that he need assistance to exit the ride as Burt helps him down each step. Roy has a girlfriend who also works at the park Ellie played by Joan Freeman. They plan on getting married soon but trouble ensues at home as Roy's learns that his obtrusive,overbearing Father Buck (Arthur O'Connell), enlisted him for the NASA space program in Houston, Texas. Buck is a proud World War One Vet and loves to reminisce about his days in the trenches. Roy would just love to have his to shaky feet planted firmly on the ground. Roy tried to tell his Dad otherwise but before he could respond there he was on the tarmack of Sweetwater Airport with luggage heading south for Houston. Roy is petrified of flying so he walks around the plane and heads for a deserted bus stop that just happens to go to Houston. This is unexplained throughout the picture and is a running gag throughout.Upon his arrival Roy is greeted by Astronaut Fred Gifford (Leslie Neilson) who takes a liking to the befuddled puny man with sloppy packed suitcase. Roy meets with his supervisor the loud and domineering Jesse White.Jesse barks out his work detail to a attentive Roy who realizes that his Father enrolled him in a janitorial job at the airbase rather than training for deep space. Roy is relegated to mop from space to space up to the far reaches of the hallway. Roy inadvertently gets into a picture of Astronauts while on his shift and the photo reaches his local Newspaper.Father Buck Fleming thinks his boy is on his way training in the riggers of Astronaut training but anything is far from that truth. Roy quickly asks his supervisor for a leave of absence to returns home and set the record straight. Roy arrives to a hero's welcome with friends and relatives all around as Roy is fielding questions and giving janitorial answers. All that time Roy couldn't tell his Father the truth about being a WB 1074 Janitorial engineer rather than a Rugged Spaceman.Roy was about to spill his situation as janitor but his Father interupts him and tells him he was no World war one Hero but a librarian who stayed State side. Roy asked, "But what about your injury to your shoulder?" Buck responded by saying, "The Encyclopedia Brittanica fell on it!" Roy returns to Houston as promised and continued sweeping and mopping his way across the celestial linoleum. More trouble ensues as Buck and his two friends travel down to Houston to visit Roy in action. Roy is warned as the three Sweetwater Men walks the outside grounds of the spacecenter. Roy continues the ruse wearing Fred Gifford's space suit and getting mixed up with dangerous equipment which causes more problems for Roy at every turn. Will Roy ever get the chance to reach space? I think with a few drinks at a local tavern and the help of a few scientist and Astronaut friends things just might work out. This movie personally hits home for the child with pushy parents making them do stuff they don't want to do. The comedy is consistent and the story has a good cadence with little gaps and little chatter. Physical scenes and cinematography show the scary effects of vertigo as Roy battles his fears. A must see for any Don knotts fan and these movie keep their uniformity in the Knotts genre if there is such a thing with comedy as the numerator and fear as the common denominator.

noyb cutshall Knotts plays a man who works at the local kiddieland as an "astronaut" for a children's ride. His war hero father's dream is to have Knotts be a real astronaut but Knotts is afraid of heights and most important, he is afraid of disappointing his father.Knotts has a very good outing in this outer space flick. He brings the usual "I'm scared to death" character that made Knotts a star on both TV and film. Knotts was allowed to develop this character from a man who couldn't better himself and had no pride, into a space hero that the community looked up to.This is a good family movie from the 60's and it's top for Knotts.

tfrizzell Small-time carnival operator Don Knotts gets enlisted to work for NASA by his father. Of course the job Knotts has gotten is to be a janitor in Houston. Now Knotts must lie to all his friends and relatives to make them think that he is a real astronaut. NASA is in need of funds though and they show their confidence in their program by coming up with an idea to send a non-astronaut into outer space. Get the picture? A funny little film that is once again an exhibition of Knotts' talents. Leslie Nielsen is priceless as the astronaut assigned to be Knotts' primary instructor. A film that plays more like a long television show rather than an actual motion picture. Fair in the end. 2.5 out of 5 stars.