Space Station 76
Tags: satire, melodrama

Plot synopsis:
Space Station 76 is a dark comedy film that deconstructs seemingly idyllic relationships, set against the backdrop of Omega 76; a 1970s' retro future styled space station.
Jessica (Tyler) arrives to serve as the station's new co-pilot. While at first all seems normal and the crew friendly, she soon discovers that the people on board are struggling with issues such as infidelity, loneliness, depression, and drug abuse.
She becomes increasingly frustrated by Captain Glenn (Wilson), who harbors a secret of his own, namely his failed relationship with the previous co-pilot, Daniel. She is eventually drawn to Ted (Bomer), a lonely, married crewman, and his 7-year-old daughter, Sunshine (Rogers). Ted yearns to reconnect with his wife, Misty (Coughlan), but she's happier talking over her problems with Doctor Bot and having an affair with Steve (O'Connell). His daughter Sunshine contends with her unhappy, mentally ill mother and her pet gerbil eating its babies, one by one.
Events finally come to a head at a Christmas party, when Misty suggests they play the "Truth Game". Jessica then exposes Glenn's homosexuality, just before Misty almost exposes Jessica's inability to have children. Just when it seems like everything's falling apart, an asteroid collides with the station, destroying the shuttle and leaving them all stranded.
As the crew slowly return to their lives, Sunshine turns off the gravity, and floats whilst viewing a meteor shower through the window.

Review: I think part of it could be cultural and us Brits having a different sense of humour to Americans/Canadians (which is where this film has thus far been released).Frankly, I found this a lot more entertaining than comedies like 'Bad Neighbors', 'This is the End', 'Pineapple Express', 'Hangover'...
Again; probably my different sense of humour, contrastive to a lot of reviewers here who have echoed similar thoughts about Space Station 76.Now, Space Station 76 isn't paced to have you laughing at every second - and it is deliberately slow as a film; rather, it's a window into daily life in space coupled with awkward discourse and events amongst the small community on the ship.
It's evident this is going to end up as more of a cult movie: it deserves to be.The sets are wonderfully put together and create a consistent sense of galactic immersion, the acting is brilliant, the cast is filled with a lot of familiar faces from great films and the comedy delivers well.
Despite the label, I didn't find this film funny at all, but rather quite tragic with scattered moments of pitch-black humor.That said, this was a rather clever and poignant allegory of middle- class suburban living aboard a spaceship floating through a region of space devoid of any other ships, inhabited planets or stations.
The themes present in this film are universal and are relevant today despite the retro setting.These characters broke my heart, but none more so the leading trio of the captain, lieutenant and Ted played by Patrick Wilson, Liv Tyler and Matt Bomer respectively.
His portrayal of Ted the welder comes across as extremely authentic despite the sometimes gauche elements of the film.While I did enjoy the movie I found the ending a little abrupt and disappointing, as if they'd made their point and decided to leave it there instead of providing some sort of thematic resolution.Don't watch Space Station 76 expecting a slick, CGI-tastic sci-fi movie.
The acting is fantastic (absolutely everyone is good) and the sound track is delicious, but there is absolutely no comedy, apart from strangeness linked to the setting and a few gimmicks, (all done in the first 5 minutes).The film is even a bit depressing.
The pilot Jessica (Liv Tyler) arrives at the refueling Space Station 76 as the substitute for the former pilot Daniel to work with the alcoholic gay Captain Glenn (Patrick Wilson), who is depressed for missing Daniel.
During the Christmas party, Misty suggests they should play the truth game when secrets are exposed."Space Station 76" is one of those movies that does not work for at least two main reasons.
I really wanted to like this movie but they did an awful job and I feel bad for the actors in it, who did the best they could with the direction and writing they were given.Great job on the sets, that's the only positive thing I have to say.
If you are willing to sniff every bit of nonverbal communication and recognize all the clichés behind each character, you should really enjoy the acting and find some well placed dry and ironic humor.If you want to see a movie to briefly forget your daily troubles and/or have some quick laughs, you will REALLY hate Space Station 76.
I think the dysfunctional families were so caught up in their lives and drama no one was paying attention proximity warning also pointed out very clearly in the beginning when the captain was explaining its use and that the bridge was left on auto pilot shows how we leave our lives on auto and miss the coming dangers and that when the realization of sudden death hit them suddenly their day to day drama no longer mattered what mattered was Love and family shown in Tyler and bower relationship the mother daughter relationship, and the new Born's child's family this movie was brilliant there was also several small themes like the garbles dieing leading to the dog dieing and ending with the child knowing all the loss that there was still her love of floating.
This is a good movie, but if you go in thinking it's going to be some wacky, sex space movie like the trailer makes it out to be, you'll be in for disappointment.
An outstanding film that is like a microcosm of the social groups, people, and diversity of character we all find in modern life here on planet earth.It is based on a small ship in the middle of nowhere.
I like that whole 70's Buck Rogers/Space 1999 look and love when film makers try to make movies that are set in a different time.
Patrick Wilson was good too but as with many of the other characters he was just a bit too hard to find believable.As for the feel of the whole movie: it was surprisingly dark in it's tone.
There was no definite plot other than a bunch of random people thrown together on a space station and petty arguments happen.The only thing that was half-way decent were the special effects.
What people go into this movie expecting is a parody of the 70's, but what they get is the vision of the future as seen from the 70's as done in the storytelling styles of the 70's.You've got the sad kid stereotype played perfectly, the petty manipulator, the closeted gay man who contemplates suicide and is extremely depressed due to social mores, you've got the pop- psychology spewing psych robot with no personality, the woman who doesn't feel she's a woman because she can't have a child, the mother who won't stop about how your life doesn't start until you have kids, etc.Beyond that you have what appears to be a story that while it takes place in space almost has nothing to do with science fiction or space.There's a 70's social naivety that fogs all the characters actions causing them to seem cardboard and stiff along with a fundamental difference in technological understanding that pervades every aspect of this movie.It is not a particularly good movie, but it is made perfectly as what would play in the 70's.
In this dark comedy that is blacker than the deepest depths of space, a group of denizens reside in a random floating space station (Station 76 to be exact) whose lives and well-being are put up for inspection by the audience as they struggle with everyday ordeals such as loneliness, infidelity, sexism, drug use, self loathing and loneliness (yes, the second mention was intentional).This low budget film does the most with its budget and it actually all looks quite acceptable as it is a spoof/comedic take on cheap, cheesy futuristic 70's science fiction films which allows for poor special effects and less-than believable interior shots of actual human- built ships/stations floating about in space.
I chuckled throughout most of this movie but this comedy is actually more of a tragedy and while everything is played for laughs the somber, serious nature of each of the characters may persuade some to believe they are instead watching a bizarre drama as these characters are clearly all crying on the inside.When Jessica (Liv Tyler - Empire Records) newly arrives at Station 76 as a new mate, the men and women of the station aren't sure what to make of a woman wanting to "work".
And the feeling of the 70's future is so well polished I really feel like this is space 1999 meets alien.The swishy brown lines in the lunchroom, the star wars lighting for the hallways, roller skates, crayon maps on the wall, vcr references to Mr. rogers, even the horrible mustache on one of the lead characters all layered with 70s tunes and a great rock intro to the film...Just enjoy it, don't bother criticizing a good time :).
Avoid watching this movie if you really have something better to do, like slamming your head in a car door, or just going outside and being part of the real humanity.This movie has it all petty jealousy, hatred of different people, materialistic values ahead families and friends, and finally plain old child neglect.
Retro is my thing, and anything with punk in it – steampunk, dieselpunk, atompunk – so I was looking forward to seeing Space Station 76.Now, for the positives: it was well made, well acted (especially from Liv Tyler, Patrick Wilson and young Kylie Rogers), well directed.
In addition, it looked like something that could have been made in the Seventies, which was obviously the intention: the computer graphics, the smoking, the Valium, the beige, the videocassettes, the robot therapist (although the exterior space shots and interior zero- gravity scenes looked a little too good – no strings to be seen!).Where it fell for me was the story.
The plot lines are all very human and Earthbound (and certainly not anything that would have been part of any movie or show from the era): the alcoholic, closeted gay Captain, the lonely little girl who can't keep her pets alive, the bitter couples in the broken, empty relationships where even affairs are just masturbation by proxy, and the infertile Assistant Captain who arrives onboard the station (although everyone keeps calling it a ship) unwittingly brings all the tensions to the surface.
The pace is slow but never drags for a second and shots hold long enough to make the intended impression.This movie is destined for a huge cult following once people discover what it is (a smart, emotional think piece) instead of what it isn't (Anchorman in space).
I think the movie could have been funny and I did smile a few times but the little girl became the main focus point for me and I found it hard to like anyone in the movie except for her and Liv Tyler.
I almost feel like suing the company that made it for wasting 93 minutes of my life :( Liv Tyler is as beautifully sad looking as always but I do not think any actor could have saved this movie.
If you do watch this after reading the reviews I would love to hear if anyone honestly enjoyed it.It has got to be in the bottom 5 worst movies I have ever seen and I have seen a lot.I hope this saves at least a couple of people from wasting some time..
It says that in the description, drama comedy, but only an insane person would feel amused by the chronic loneliness and depression of the people on board Space Station 76.
Space Station 76 is a parody of the science fiction film genre that draws much of its dark and subtle humour from its retro-futuristic surroundings and its ability to play with the cultural differences between the 1970s and the present day.
Not because the jokes fell flat or didn't work when they were stretched out into a full-length feature film, but because the film just wasn't really a comedy, as it was presented in the one and half minutes trailer.Yes, the sets are indeed well-designed (i.e. old fashioned seventies incarnations of what the future may look like) and there are a few moments that produce a wry smile from you.
However, the film is actually more of a dark drama and – dare I say it – quite depressing.Leaving the kitsch period feel aside, the film is about a space station billions of light years away from Earth.
I rented this film thinking it was a comedy that based its jokes on the clichés of yesteryear's science fiction and I got quite a dark drama about the misery of human existence at its loneliest.Therefore, I –sort of – didn't enjoy it.
(Maybe he already has?!)Worth a watch if you like slightly 'out there' movies set in space that deal more with the complexities of the human mind than lashings of boring CGI..
I grew up watching Space 1999 and was 11 when Star Wars came out in 1977 - so to me, Space Station 76 was so darn perfect I think it deserves a far, far better rating on IMDb.Ratings shouldn't be given based on what you expected from a movie but what the movie was trying to do and say – and to me, this movie was poking huge amounts of fun at not only 70s science fiction but for the 70s in general.
Almost every scene was so completely inappropriate you can't help but laugh out loud at everything, yet the acting is good and the sets and special effects are sharp and clean to make a visually appealing movie.Patrick Wilson was perfect as the uptight gay captain in denial about everything but desperately wanting, while Kali Rocha nailed it with her overbearing narcissistic character, Donna.
Matt Boomer was great as the always stoned Ted of course and you can't help but feel for Live Tyler's character as the warm and loving Jessica who tries so hard to fit in.Hats off to the writers and to director Jack Plotnick for giving us such a different movie - a fun look into an alternate modern view on 70's sci-fi - mixed with daytime soap drama I had a great time and lots of laughs watching this movie!.
The movie does have a few bumps along the road, but overall I liked the subtle mood and the awkwardness it spreads all around.Liv Tyler is playing it as soft and understated as possible and you might not think every joke is a hit, but if you buy into this you will have a lot of fun.
In conclusion, Space Station 76 isn't perfect either as a comedy or as a drama, and I have some reservations against its unstable combination of ingredients, but I liked it pretty much and I consider it worthy of a recommendation, specially because of its ambition and experimental spirit..
It's not this one."Space Station 76" is beautifully designed and shot with perfect tributes to the 70s style of movie-making.
Now, that you have read what this movie is about, you can skip this dud, unless, you want to waste your time watching people of terrible to mediocre character in an uneventful slice of life drama (even the one huge event is anticlimactic).
By the way, Liv Tyler's looks helped me get to the end of this movie that is as empty as the lives of its characters..
You know when you go to a movie and have already decided it isn't going to be any good and then your totally blown away by how much you enjoyed it, that pretty much sums up this film.
Also there are many awkward moments in this film that I found hilarious although other reviewers found them to be a lack of acting or direction I completely disagree it feels real or at least as real as a 1970's adventure in space could be.
The movie Space Station 76 managed to suck all the fun out of the 1970s like an airlock would.
See this movie when you don't feel like Hollywood raping your senses :)Set design is great.
Being a fan of a good comedy , this movie has what it takes to give you a great ride of fun and to be honest ,Space Station 76 has a place among Galaxy Quest , Airplane and The Naked Gun .
The cast had a very good chemistry , Patrick Wilson , Liv Tyler and Matt Bomer delivered very funny performances and made their characters a joy to watch.
If you expect a proper comedy with great entertainment value and laughs, then not so good.I was expecting the latter, so I wasn't impressed with the outcome of "Space Station 76".
And they managed to capture that 1970s feeling and atmosphere quite well, both in designs of the space station, clothing and wardrobe, and characters alike, so that was also a big plus.I had expected the movie to be more funny than it turned out to be.
And I wasn't even laughing throughout the course of the movie, so that counted against the movie experience as a whole.I think that "Space Station 76" is something of an acquired taste, and thus it will not have such a great appeal to everyone in the audience.But still, I am rating it five out of ten stars, solely because of its production value, its cast and its ability to capture that groovy atmosphere.
It's been quite a while since a comedy like Space Station 76 hit the big screens , a great cast , well written plot and of course a good dose of heart just make this movie an instant classic .
It appeared as though they tried to mimic situations that you would have experienced if it were '1976' but had space station technology and I think the whole name of the movie was a play on the old 'airport' dramas of the 70's.
Actors tried a lot to make this film fun to watch, but poor thing was boring and did not have a real plot.
For me though I did not enjoy living in a depressing world where really I only liked two of the characters and neither was nearly good enough to carry the movie and that is my problem.
Space Station 76 did keep our attention to the end, and it was nice to have something different to watch besides the cookie cutter, predictable movies out there..
Space Station 76 is such a thing.The movie is a loving pastiche of scifi from the sixties and seventies, sporting some impressive retro styling and understated but modern special effects.
Like the space station itself, the story moves slowly and doesn't really end up getting anywhere surprising.
The acting is very good overall and the film is very creatively shot, at quite a slow pace to emphasise how time on a space station is quite monotonous.
LTCMDR Jessica Marlow (Liv Tyler) boards the space station and works with Captain Glenn (Patrick Wilson).