Adam Sandler and Carey Mulligan find themselves lost in space in Netflix’s latest sci-fi offering, ‘Spaceman’. Directed by Johan Renck, the film, shot three years ago, finally landed at the Berlinale before its upcoming release on Netflix on March 1.

Despite its impressive cast and creative team, including the likes of Carey Mulligan and director Johan Renck, ‘Spaceman’ fails to deliver on its potential. The sci-fi film, based on the novel ‘Spaceman Of Bohemia’, offers a dreary and sluggish narrative that may leave viewers yearning for an escape pod.

One of the film’s redeeming qualities is its imaginative realization, particularly the one-man spaceship at its center, designed by Jan Houllevigue. Additionally, an intriguing six-eyed spider named Hanus, voiced by Paul Dano, adds an element of mystery to the story, offering insights into the protagonist’s psyche.

However, the film’s exploration of a man’s hallucinations and regrets about his relationship in space feels outdated, especially considering the precedents set by classics like Tarkovsky’s ‘Solaris’. The adaptation of ‘The Spaceman of Bohemia’ by Czech writer Jaroslav Kalfar follows Jakub on Day 189 of his solo mission to reach a mysterious dust cloud near Jupiter, as he grapples with loneliness and broken relationships.

As the film transitions between Jakub’s solitary journey and flashbacks of his life on Earth, it becomes evident that ‘Spaceman’ struggles to offer a fresh perspective on the sci-fi genre. While the film’s premise holds promise, its execution falls short, failing to carve out new territory in the vast expanse of the galaxy.