Adam Sandler is a sad man in space in Netflix's emotionally engaging Spaceman (2024)

Adam Sandler is a sad man in space in Netflix's new sci-fi Spaceman, which is now available to watch.

It's a classic sci-fi trope that we've seen in the likes of Ad Astra, Interstellar and more. Spaceman might not add in daddy issues, but it adds a splash of Solaris into the mix as Sandler's astronaut Jakub experiences weird phenomena too: namely a giant, talking space spider.

On paper, Spaceman is a promising blend, but the execution doesn't quite live up to the concept. While it connects emotionally with its exploration of what it means to be human, the sparse plot leaves it feeling too ponderous for too much of its runtime.

Spaceman opens with Jakub already six months into a year-long solo research mission to the edge of the solar system. He's going to investigate a mysterious dust cloud, known as Chopra, which could contain the secrets of the universe.

He's not doing that well though. Not only is the ship's malfunctioning toilet keeping him up at night, Jakub is also struggling to reach his pregnant wife Lenka (Carey Mulligan) back on Earth, who, unknown to Jakub, has left him a message saying that she's breaking up with him.

And as if the dodgy toilet and emotional turmoil weren't enough, Jakub also discovers a talking spider on the ship who claims to have existed since the beginning of time.

With nothing better to do with his days, Jakub strikes up a bond with the spider, known as Hanuš (voiced by Paul Dano). It's a connection that could well change Jakub's life for the better – if he allows it to.

Despite its flaws, Spaceman is often an engaging watch. Director Johan Renck does an excellent job conveying Jakub's sense of isolation and loneliness, taking time to establish the mundane before going weird. As a result, it's as believable that Hanuš is real as it is that Hanuš is entirely a figment of Jakub's fractured mind.

Sandler is reliably strong as Jakub, even more restrained than in his other serious roles. Jakub is a challenging character as he's emotionally numb, perhaps even before we meet him, and Sandler ensures that even though the journey is gradual, we see the cracks of humanity start to show through.

It's almost beside the point whether Hanuš is real or not as Renck is more focused on the emotional aspect. Hanuš – superbly voiced by Paul Dano – ends up being Jakub's space therapist, forcing Jakub to confront his self-absorption and callousness, as well as addressing existential questions such as what it means to be happy.

Even if Hanuš is a hallucination, Jakub's bond with the spider feels entirely real and ensures that Spaceman connects on an emotional level. Its plot might end up going nowhere, with the Chopra little more than a MacGuffin, but Renck crafts an entirely satisfying and beautifully realised journey that will move you.

Spaceman's major issue is that as much as you care for Jakub and Hanuš, you end up feeling nothing for the central love story between Jakub and Lenka.

Carey Mulligan does her best with a thinly-written role, yet the frequent flashbacks we see of their relationship give us nothing to explain why she'd have persevered with Jakub for so long. The resolution, altered from the original book, ends up feeling rushed and unearned, especially compared to the end of Jakub and Hanuš's story.

Aside from Hanuš, the movie doesn't even venture into trippy sci-fi areas until the final act; it is mostly a movie about a man talking to a spider about how sh*t he is as a human being. For some, this is exactly what they wanted from Sandler being sad in space, but for others, Spaceman will prove far too uneventful.

But for those willing to luxuriate in Jakub's loneliness, Spaceman will prove an interesting – if far from perfect – entry into the 'sad man in space' sub-genre.

Spaceman is available to watch now on Netflix.