Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood Parent Guide

Growing up in Houston in the 1960s means a constant exposure to the excitement of the Space Race. The Astrodome, AstroWorld, and even AstroTurf, all reflect the local obsession with the huge developments taking place in the NASA Mission Control Center.

Stanley (Milo Coy, adult voice-over by Jack Black) is no exception, being completely caught up in the all-consuming space frenzy that surrounds him. His father (Bill Wise) even works at NASA. Along with his five siblings, Stanley enjoys the fruits of massive technological advancement stemming from the space program, everything from portable radios to color TV.

Watching real astronauts prepare to go to the moon isn’t enough for Stanley: his imagination comes up with an exciting alternate reality. He dreams of being the first kid on the moon, specially selected for a pee-wee space program called Apollo 10 ½. Even if those dreams stay dreams, the real mission is coming up soon…

Apollo 10 ½ is less a story and more a 90 minute rotoscoped nostalgia trip. Linklater, as writer, director, and producer, has crafted a love letter to the joys of his own 1960s upbringing. Even Jack Black, who narrates most of the story, has a strange connection to the story: his mother, Judith Love Cohen, was an electrical engineer on several Apollo systems. Their affection for their childhoods keeps the film from feeling like syrupy autobiography, instead turning the movie into a sweet little time capsule.

The Apollo program always offers an interesting series of comparisons, which Stanley highlights well. It’s the height of the Cold War and America is facing the threat of nuclear annihilation, a divisive conflict in Vietnam, and a cultural rift that is tearing the country apart at home. Apollo, while not universally popular, represents a huge, unifying moment for Americans.

Don’t let me scare you off with talk about the zeitgeist of middle America in the 60’s: the film isn’t that complex. While it touches on these topics, it’s completely suitable for older children and teens, who are not only going to enjoy the excitement of man’s first steps on the moon, but the insane unsupervised freedoms and entertainments available to children at the time (at least by modern standards). Parents have little to worry about, apart from the risk that your kids might ask you to let them ride in the back of an unsecured pickup truck at highway speeds. In fairness, it does look fun – even if it is likely to result in some hideous injury.