Dr. Frank Corvin: Clint Eastwood	Tank Sullivan: James Garner
Jerry O'Neill: Donald Sutherland	Hawk: Tommy Lee Jones
Astronaut: Don Cheadle	Director: Clint Eastwood

30 Second Bottom Line: A space satellite built in the 1960's will crash to earth within six weeks if the guidance system is not repaired. Four former Air Force test pilots, and astronaut wannabees from 1958 are called to duty. The all but forgotten satellite has technology built by one of the pilots and only they understand it.

Story Line: Prior to NASA, the Air Force was in charge of space flight. Using black and white footage appropriate for the time, we follow the dare devil life of John Glenn (current US Senator and first American to orbit the earth) and the men of his time.

Frank Corvin's (Clint Eastwood) old nemesis from his Air Force days, works at NASA and reluctantly asks for his help. NASA hopes that consulting will be sufficient. If that had worked, there would be no story. Frank convinces the top brass that there is not enough time for him and his crew to do a knowledge transfer to the young astronauts to go into space and make the changes needed to prevent the satellite from crashing. He and his senior (citizen) cadets must be allowed to go.

Two thirds of this space saga is on earth preparing for the trip to outer space. Phase one finds Frank searching out his three partners to convince them to join him. Tank (James Garner) is now a preacher; Jerry (Donald Sutherland) designs roller coasters; and Hawk (Tommy Lee Jones) is a private pilot. Frank, the designer, is perplexed in retirement, and installing a garage door opener shows how much he would enjoy using skills, which have been dormant for decades.

Soon the old test pilots have been called to astronaut duty and must prove that they are physically fit, which requires going through some complex training. There is considerable humor during this sequence.

In case the old men are not up to the task while in space, NASA sends two talented young astronauts to accompany the senior group. Don Cheadle is one of them who fits right in after his role earlier this year in Mission to Mars.

Training at NASA facilities is almost a story in itself and helps lead to powerful space scenes in the last third of the film.

Tell Me More About It: Space Cowboys captures the culture of the dedicated personnel in the space program. It also shows how vibrant people over 70 can be. John Glenn's trip into space at age 77 got this screenplay off the shelves, where it had been collecting dust because it was deemed to be unbelievable.

By comparison, great laughs can be had without the gross humor we saw in Scary Movie, Road Trip and Big Momma's House.

As the shuttle leaves the space pad, the teamwork that is required to arrive at that moment, generates a far greater sense of heart thumping patriotism, than all of the flag waving on the battlefield in Mel Gibson's The Patriot.

During the space launch training, there are a few experiences and revelations, which lead to overly simplistic foreshadowing of events…one involving Frank and the other Hawk. The scenes remain powerful but the surprise of what happens is lessened.

For grandparents, Space Cowboys, is a great PG-13 film to take their grandchildren to. They could see it by themselves but why miss a chance to see a rare movie, which people with a 40-year or more age gap can both enjoy?

PG-13 (sex; dangerous situations; language)

George@reelmoviecritic.com

Clint Eastwood: True Crime	James Garner: Rockford Files- TV
Donald Sutherland: Outbreak	Tommy Lee Jones: Men in Black
Don Cheadle: Mission to Mars	Director Clint Eastwood: Absolute Power