'Space Force' Review: It's not 'Boots on the Moon' but brickbats for Steve Carell & John Malkovich's sitcom

'Space Force'

Cast: Steve Carell, John Malkovich, Ben Schwartz, Diana Silvers, Tawny Newsome, Lisa Kudrow and others.

Creators: Greg Daniels and Steve Carell 

Duration: 10 episodes

Where to watch: Netflix

Critics' Rating: 2/5

'Space Force' Story:

A decorated pilot with dreams of running the Air Force, four-star Gen. Mark. R. Naird is thrown for a loop when he finds himself tapped to lead the newly formed sixth branch of the U.S. Armed Forces: Space Force. Sceptical but dedicated, Mark uproots his family and moves to a remote base in Colorado where he and a colourful team of scientists and 'Spacemen' are tasked by the White House with getting American boots on the moon (again) in a hurry and achieving total space dominance

'Space Force' Review:

Steve Carell and Greg Daniels reuniting after The Office, it was meant to be fireworks on the screens! The two trailers dropped subsequently made the show excited as watching something light during this crisis is something which people are looking forward to. Even I completed The Office by binge-watching during the lockdown, and yes I watched Space Force too. But was it the same feels which made me excited by the trailer? My answer is sadly a 'no'.

Mark Naird (Steve) has been made head of the new Space Force and the mission is to put 'Boots on the Moon' or like a 'certain' POTUS' tweet or miss-tweet 'B***s on the moon'. Throughout the ten episodes, the Space Force team speak with the team of US President by conveying the messages given by him at every instance. Interestingly, the POTUS is neither named nor mentioned by viewers can easily picture the 'you know who'. Not just POTUS, a 'fashionista' FLOTUS also makes her way into the Space Force and how.

Naird is given a team mixed up with smarty pants and someone who is lost on Earth, certainly not sure to sustain on the moon. But he is backed by Dr Adrian Mallory (John Malkovich) and their banter will remind you that of Scott with Dwight as well as Jim. The frenemies need each other and detest too time-to-time making the series watchable.

The distraction is certain as I tried my level best to get hooked on to it, despite the two actors who gave me my favourite iconic roles unite - Steve Carell (Michael Scott - The Office) and Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe Buffay - Friends). Talking about the latter, she is more of a recurring role and not always around (hint - Orange Is the New Black). Yuppity yup! But it's a delight to see her in a sitcom again as she was always made for one since the 90s hit show. But wish there was more to Maggie (Lisa) and hopefully in the second season if made so.

Booksmart actor Diana Silvers plays Mark and Maggie's teenage daughter Erin Naird. She is shown as the stereotypical rebellious daughter who is lost, need her parents' attention and wants to go against them too.

The late Fred Willard makes his final appearance on the show in the initial episodes, but not is much shown as an impact to take the series ahead. Sadly, like his character, he made it as an undeserving forgettable cameo. 

This might be a first to have an episode dedicated to space mission in India and also the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi getting a mention. In what context? Let's not spoil it here.

Jimmy O. Yang's character as Dr Chen Kaifang is shown as a smart Astro-botanist and his scenes with a helicopter pilot and now astronaut Angela Ali (Tawny Newsome) is entertaining but not leaving an up-to-the-mark moment. 

I liked how Mission Mangal, despite being a movie showed how a satellite is being created to be sent to Mars. With utmost detailing the movie made me glued to the screens but Space Force despite having a space of 10 episodes was made in haste when it comes to space missions. Every episode there's launch mission but the process and the contributions of the scientists are left to the imagination of viewers.

There have been several references made of Star Wars (cliched, though)!

Like the SpaceX mission got postponed due to bad weather conditions, Space Force is also witnessing a not-so-successful mission of making it as a binge-watch show. 

As we all know Greg Daniels and Steve Carell's collaboration for The Office did not create a fan base in the first season and then went on to become one of the most loved comedy shows ever. Will Space Force achieve the same fate or is Netflix witnessing a low time currently?

'Space Force' Verdict:

Not all much-awaited reunions taste the success!