A NASA astronaut (Thornton), forced to retire years earlier so he could save his family farm, has never give up his dream of space travel and looks to build his own rocket, despite the government's threats to stop him.
Texan Charles Farmer left the Air Force as a young man to save the family ranch when his dad died. Like most American ranchers, he owes his bank. Unlike most, he's an astrophysicist with a rocket in his barn - one he's built and wants to take into space. It's his dream. The FBI puts him under surveillance when he tries to buy rocket fuel; the FAA stalls him when he files a flight plan - it's post-9/11, after all. His wife is angry when she finds out their bank is initiating foreclosure. Charlie fears failure and decides, precipitously, to launch. Are twenty-first century American dreams just a sign of insanity? Are those who believe in dreamers only fools?
Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>
In the scene where Charles Farmer asks the employee of Dunkin Dounts for advertising on his rocket, the shot shows Farmer in front of a large glass window in front of a graveyard with a short chain link fence around it. The shot of the employee is the actual inside of the real Dunkin Donuts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. However the graveyard in the shot is a real graveyard with graves dating back to roughly 1910. The graveyard is actually behind the Dunkin Donuts.
See more »
Goofs
Factual errors:
The type of Atlas rocket show in the film was designed without a rigid internal skeleton. It was held up by pressurized fuel tanks. If the capsule were loaded atop as shown without the rocket being fueled and pressurized, it would have collapsed under its own weight.
See more »
Quotes
Charles Farmer:
Ladies and gentleman, may I have your attention, please? I'm going to the moon, and I'm bringing a balloon. Shepard Farmer:
I'm going to the moon and I'm bringing an oxygen tank. Charles Farmer:
I believe you're going to the moon. Stanley Farmer:
I'm going to the moon, and I'm bringing Mr. Grump. Audrey 'Audie' Farmer:
No, but not at the table. Shepard Farmer:
You're not bringing a hamster to the moon. Stanley Farmer:
Yes, I can. Charles Farmer:
Yes, she can. I believe she's going to the moon. Stanley Farmer:
Ooh. Ha ha. Sunshine Farmer:
I'm going to the moon, and I'm gonna bring sugar.
[...]
See more »
Crazy Credits
During the credits, an interview on The Tonight Show is shown between Farmer and Jay Leno. Pictures play during the credits as well.
See more »
" (Hey Baby) Que Paso"
Written by Augie Meyers and Bill Sheffield Performed by Texas Tornados Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records Inc. By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing
See more »