Space Station 76

Space Station 76 is a science fiction movie from 2014 that brings a satirical look at space exploration and the sci-fi genre. The film is directed by Jack Plotnick and stars Patrick Wilson as Captain Glenn, who is in charge of a space station located in the planet Jupiter's orbit in the year 1976.

The movie opens with a glimpse of the spaceship Orion, which looks futuristic but also reminiscent of the 70s. As the spaceship approaches the space station, we see the crew preparing for their new addition to the crew. Captain Glenn is nervous about the arrival of his new second-in-command, Jessica Marlowe (Liv Tyler), and wants everything to be perfect once she lands.

Jessica's arrival, however, creates tension among the crew. Jessica is not like the others, she's conscious of her femininity, and how her co-workers perceive her. We see the gender norms that were prevalent during the 1970s of being tough and lacking emotional depth. The crew, especially Steve (Matt Bomer), feels uncomfortable confronting their feelings, and there is an evident power dynamic at play as Jessica tries to integrate herself with her new crewmates.

The space station is a blend of old technology and futuristic gadgets. The station's brutalist aesthetic is not well suited for the domestic tasks that the crew performs like cooking and cleaning. The outdated technology, along with the cheesy soundtrack that sounds out of place in space, adds an air of absurdity that's meant to be humorous but sometimes feels awkward.

As the movie progresses, we see the crew's struggles with their personal insecurities, their sexual preferences, and their relationships with their partners who are back on Earth. Todd (Keir Dullea) and Misty (Marisa Coughlan) are the couple who live on the space station and are struggling with their marriage. Misty feels neglected by Todd, who is merely focused on his work, and Todd fails to notice the hints from Misty.

The station's psychologist, Dr. Bot (voiced by Jerry O'Connell), is always present to help the crew with their emotional issues. The only problem is that Dr. Bot is an artificial intelligence that's also struggling with feelings of loneliness despite being a robot. It's an interesting dynamic, and while Dr. Bot's character is played for laughs, it shows how the crew relies on machines to help them with their emotions.

There are incidences where the lack of human connection manifests, like when Captain Glenn uses a public restroom on the space station to hide from his troubles or when Misty confides in Steve, who's married but still drawn to Misty.

The movie deals with heavy themes of loneliness, repression, and conformity. The artificial environment of the space station highlights how the crew is trying to control their feelings and stay professional despite being isolated in space. The satire aims to highlight how space exploration itself is a form of escapism from the problems here on Earth.

The production design is excellent, but at times it feels like the movie is trying too hard to emulate a 70s aesthetic. The retro-futuristic nature of the space station clashes with the issues raised in the film, making it difficult to take the movie seriously in some instances.

The acting is commendable, and each character has their own arc that's explored. Liv Tyler stands out as Jessica, who's trying to assert herself in a male-dominated industry. Patrick Wilson's performance as Captain Glenn shows the character's struggle to appear in control while dealing with personal troubles.

In conclusion, Space Station 76 is an enjoyable satire of 70s sci-fi tropes that examines personal insecurities within a futuristic setting. Occasionally, the humor can be hit-or-miss, but the movie is worth watching for some of the excellent performances and character-driven drama.