And the script is even better this time. Funnier too. The craziness is amped up even more, this time McAbee applying a similar approach to "The Hitcherhiker's Guide To the Galaxy", with much more background information, more narration, more nuttiness.
Most of the ideas are very good, but it's the dialog that is at times sublime. I can't recall the exact lines, but several of them had me rolling in laughter. It's not obvious dumb humour; a lot of it is much more subtle than what millennials are used to, so I am not sure whether they (and especially Zoomers) would be able to enjoy the movie properly. No Ben Stiller here, no Will Ferrell, i.e. No dumbed-down cringe "humour", no third-rate grimacing and annoying over-the-top mannerisms. Instead, both of Cory's films are somewhat of a throwback to the golden era of American indie films (late 80s and 90s), with the kind of humour that doesn't necessarily appeal to a wide audience. Nevertheless, long-time sci-fi fans might be able to appreciate all the nonsense that goes on, as well as Python fans.
SS is made up of six 10-minute episodes, beginning/end credits included, and this is the only drawback, that it's so short. If we take away the credits, there's barely 55-56 minutes of footage.
The visual presentation is once again interesting. "The American Astronaut" had a typical slick "arty" b&w look, whereas SS is mostly brown-and-white and blue-and-white. It changes hues on occasion. I can't say I disagree with this style, but "Astronaut" looks better overall. Then again, maybe there was a bigger budget for that film, who knows. Though we are talking small budgets for both films.
It's very telling about the current state of the American film industry when two low-budget obscurities are so much better and funnier than the vast majority of ultra-lame comedies being served by the big studios. But as long as Sandler, Schumer, Wilson, Ferrell, Bateman, Stiller and other mediocrities and worth-nothings dominate modern American comedy, there is no hope things will improve any time soon. Films like "American Astronaut" and "Stingray Sam" will be the odd - and rare - unexpected gems that give the moribund U. S. show-biz a small semblance of hope.
