User reviews

Unless the viewer is *very* familiar with the 1970s ... the fashions, culture, music, attitudes, behaviors, etc ... much of the impact of this movie will be lost. There are a multitude of references to that era that are presented with such subtlety that they are very easily missed. From the top-loading VCR to the mood ring to Tab soda can to the "I'm OK, you're OK"-speak of the robot shrink to the rainbow color distortion in the telecoms projection, the film is loaded with them. Clearly the production designer, costume designer, and set decorator did their research on the period. That aspect of the film was wonderful. The story line? Not so much.

The idea of spoofing 70s sci-fi TV shows is great, even if it's been done before. (And better, as in "Galaxy Quest.") This has all the right trappings in terms of sets, costumes and soundtrack track choices, as well as a game-enough cast. But where is the script? There are a few half-baked comic ideas here, but few if any of them are developed beyond the level of the verrrrrry mildly amusing, at best. There's less than a SNL skit's worth of actual laughs here. Worse, the characters are mostly irritating, with ideas that are potentially funny (Wilson's Captain being a closet case) and those that really aren't (two sets of bad, oblivious parents) both simply repeating themselves without building toward any big payoff. In fact, what they build toward is a weirdly serious scene at a Christmas party where everyone reveals how much they hate each other, something that might actually be cathartic in a movie that WASN'T aiming to be a comedy. I just don't know what the filmmakers were thinking. It's very strange to go to all this trouble and expense to mount a sci-fi fantasy satire, and seemingly forget to include much in the way of actual humor. No, the humor wasn't too "subtle" for me--deadpan is one thing, but this was just flat and lacking wit. A pity.

I find it strange and suspicious that I saw the so-called international premiere at the Montreal Fantasia Festival yesterday and that there were already 7 reviews up that had been there for months (all from March except 2), that were all roughly of the same length (one-paragraph long), that were all very positive, that were often the only review done by the reviewer on IMDb, and that 3 reviews were from people who joined IMDb at the same time. I'm not sure what to think of this but let's give the benefit of the doubt. (September 21 edit: Since writing this review, I learnt that the movie was actually shown at South by Southwest festival in March even though the Fantasia Festival website and program do say "International premiere". It's why I wrote "so-called" international premiere. I still find the early reviews suspicious but less so.)

Contrary to those other glowing reviews, I didn't like this movie and I'm still not quite sure why. I didn't really laugh except perhaps once. I might even have found it more sad than funny most of the time. When people in the public laughed, and they did laugh, I wasn't even smiling or amused. Keep in mind that the Fantasia festival audience is usually very generous and expressive. To be fair, 2 friends I went with thought the movie was good.

So what went wrong? Why was it that, apparently, a good portion of the people in the theater enjoyed this '70s sci-fi pastiche made today while I didn't?

Maybe it was because of my age and lack of familiarity/nostalgia. I'm way more familiar with sci-fi shows/films of the '80s and after, although I've seen a few of the '70s. Usually, I do love sci-fi comedies and I do love dark humor. Maybe it was because of the acting. Most actors - especially the captain (Patrick Wilson), the new first officer (Liv Tyler) and the "mechanic" (Matt Bomer) - played this very seriously and deadpan. Usually nothing wrong with that, it's supposed to be "drama" too after all, but here I found it sometimes jarring. It's like those actors weren't cast in the right film. I did enjoy the Misty character, the blonde Anna-Faris look-alike, that was a little more over the top.

Maybe it's because it was depressing or sad. Basically, all the characters were depressed and/or unhappy. Even the captain was suicidal. Usually, this is fertile ground for dark comedy but the pay-offs here seemed disappointing. A little girl here was very good but almost everything involving her just seemed sad, and not "ha-ha" sad. Maybe it's because I was spoiled beforehand. I did read the festival program entry, saw the trailer. Perhaps it ruined the better jokes, the effect of surprise. Maybe it was because most of the comedy bits weren't that funny after all. I do get how unacceptable behavior today (such as smoking around children) was more acceptable in the '70s and that the differences can be amusing. I do get that with pot, you find things funny that you otherwise wouldn't. I do get that cliché pop psychology advice can be amusing. However, this and other things seemed funnier on paper than how it was in delivery. It was all very deadpan. Again, this usually doesn't bother me, but it did here.

Maybe it was because of the decors and special effects. Actually no, those were better than expected. Even though the Fantasia festival program said the movie was "faithfully free of new-fangled CGI", I learnt recently the effects were indeed done digitally. To my eyes, they did seem to look vintage and made with models, but I was fooled. I thought the looks inside the station from space were especially well done. However, I thought the dingy toy robots distracted from immersion. They felt like props from the stage play this movie was based on. Yeah, the decors were repetitive, but it was like this back then, so not complaining there. Maybe I just wasn't into the right mood. All that being said, even though I didn't personally care for that film, a certain nostalgic audience having the references and in the right frame of mind might find it enjoyable. However, I do not think that it deserves those 9-stars and 10-stars ratings in the IMDb reviews made before the "international" premiere. I would give it around a 6 or 7 stars for most people because it was too hit or miss. Personally, for me, I have to rate it lower as I found it disappointing and mostly unfunny.

Rating: 4 out of 10 (Poor)

I can't remember the last film I saw that frustrated me as much as SPACE STATION 76. I remember reading reviews when it hit the festival circuit and thinking how awesome it sounded. Then I was disappointed when it was finally released on home video and never found it's way into stores. I finally ordered it on Amazon (DVD because there was apparently no Blu-ray release) and…ugh…I want to like this movie more. It's not horrible. In fact, there's a lot of hilarious stuff in this movie. But the execution...the lack of any real main plot thread…it's aggravating. The premise is perfect: a science fiction film based on the imagined future of the 70's with a modern bent. Jessica Marlowe (Liv Tyler) is a new arrival on the station and finds that she's having trouble with her new crewmates. Captain Glenn (Patrick Wilson) is a closeted homosexual, an alcoholic, and a misogynist who resents Jessica's assignment under his command. Ted (Matt Bomer) and Misty (Marisa Coughlan) are unhappily married and have a daughter, Sunshine, who suffers more than anyone else aboard the station. Finally, there's Steve (Jerry O'Connell) and Donna (Kali Rocha); another picture perfect couple, Steve cheats on his wife while she remains home drinking wine and tending to their newborn child. SPACE STATION 76 is basically a comedy/soap opera that follows the lives of our deep space rejects as the tensions mount. The movie is apparently based on a stage play and I'm sort of curious to see it.

Rarely had I seen a movie with so much going on but very little actually happening. Of all the subplots bubbling around each other, the thread with Marlowe, Ted, and Misty could probably be considered the "main" plot since it gets the most attention. Jessica and Ted are also the only decent people in the whole movie. Literally everyone else in the movie is pretty unlikeable. Funny, but unlikeable. The crew of the station and their significant others are two-faced, fickle, and brimming with distaste for everyone around them. You really start to feel bad for the little girl trapped in the middle of it all. At no point do they come together to overcome some obstacle or achieve a goal; there is no growth of any sort in SPACE STATION 76. In the end, no one has learned any sort of lesson or changed in any sense. The big climax seems to be the realization that their squabbles are small and stupid in the grand scheme of things. It's all very unsatisfying, story-wise. Although, with some tweaking, this could have worked as a mini-series or potential full television series. Actually, that sounds pretty good. I'd watch that. But as a 90 minute film, it falls pretty far short. It's a bummer because I wanted to love this movie. Still, aside from the aimless nature of the plot, this movie works well in most every other sense. SPACE STATION 76 is obviously someone's passion project and it shows in the details.

The production design and the visual gags are where the movie shines. Casual audiences might not see the charm in the simplistic sets and retro costuming. Fans of cheesy 60's and 70's science fiction will love it. It's very much a classic design with a modern (miniscule) budget. The CG effects are limited and cheap, and they fit the vibe of the film just right. Most of the film's humor is derived from the setting and it works. A prime example: the station has a therapist on board, Mr. Bot. Mr. Bot looks like a cheap 80's children's' toy robot and he's programmed to latch on to key phrases, distributing advice…and Valium…to his patients. It's a fun recurring gag. Ted is missing a hand and has had it replaced with what reminds me of an old Nintendo power glove that he must physically plug into a wall to recharge. There's a great ongoing bit where one character's repeated attempts at suicide are foiled by the system's automated safety protocols. There's a lot of really good stuff in this movie and there were more than a few scenes that got a laugh from me. The problem is the dull ensemble melodrama it's all wrapped around. I hate to say it but I'm not sure there's enough to elicit a recommendation out of me. Fans of the genre it's satirizing will probably find enough to enjoy but, if you're like me, it'll leave you feeling unsatisfied. It's all sadly forgettable.

This looks like some money was spent on it. Good sets, great cast...it looks polished. I just don't understand why they bothered.

Almost nothing happens.

The film vaguely touches on some issues but doesn't bother to really delve into any more than a bit of lip service.

There is no drama, no laughs, no action, no no no.

This is probably one of the stranger movies I have ever seen but I liked it. It is not, however, in any way a comedy and the trailer is hugely misleading.

Basically, and bizarrely, this story, about unhappy and lonely people, is staged in a 70s style space station. The acting is fantastic (absolutely everyone is good) and the sound track is delicious, but there is absolutely no comedy, apart from strangeness linked to the setting and a few gimmicks, (all done in the first 5 minutes).

The film is even a bit depressing. But, as I mentioned before, I liked it. It's almost like a strange hallucinogenic trip.

Space Station 76. It's not a bad film, neither is it a good film, nevertheless it is watchable. The film has a reference to Valium and to be fair watching it gives you a feeling that you are on tranquilisers, as the film has a gentle almost tranquil effect from the calming Elevator type music playing in the background, to the slow composed way the actors speak.

I did not find the film to be over humorous, in fact it barely raised a smile but it was addictive. The characters were well developed and interacted well. The sets are well designed and the reference to the seventies makes it seem somewhat timeless. The film played out a little like an afternoon soap opera.

Whether the film will over time develop into a cult film, maybe! Give the film a try as it has its moments.

When I decided to view this movie, there were about 6 comment on IMDb, all very positive. After seeing this movie, what I now use when I've got insomnia, I decided to take a better look at those 6 reviews. Pretty much all of them have only registered 1 review and registered in September 2014, the same date when the movie aired in selected theaters, coincidence? No, of course it is not coincidental, more and more people involved with a movie misuse democratic media to promote their stuff. It should be forbidden to let anyone comment on their own product, let the people be the judge of that.

Now for the movie, the trailer had 1 funny moment, so funny you might expect the whole movie to be this great. The artwork looked great, nice 70/80's feeling, couldn't be happier. I was as excited as the time "Space Truckers" (better watch that one over this one any day) came out, also a movie tribute to the good old time.

I waited months till I could see this movie, but what a letdown. The humor is just not there, you not even can call it dark humor, it's just boring talk, endless boring talk, a story no one gives a damn about, robots that look stupid, you're just glad when the hurting stops and the movie is at it's end.

Reading the comments and ratings, this movie does not seem to be watched by the right people. I think the problem seems to be in the expectations and the movie being something different than what we are used to these days when you read the plot of the movie.

If you expect a normal sci-fi, where the sci-fi part is important for the story, it's not, it's just the setting. The cheap 70's sci-fi look is humor for me.

If you expect a comedy, with clear, loud jokes, or people being funny, it's not. I found the humor more in the irony and in the annoyingness and painfulness of the characters.

If you expect a spectacular blockbuster, it's not, it's almost more an art-house movie.

If you expect a serious drama, it's not, although it is about loneliness and emptiness in people.

So yes, I actually did enjoy it, because it was different and well made.

What a disappointment! The premise for this movie is great. Sci-Fi comedy, parodying 70's sci-fi but made with modern film tech, and starring the beautiful Liv Tyler? Perfect! Unfortunately, it doesn't deliver. This movie is the equivalent of a fast food advertisement. "Wow! Look at that big beautiful juicy burger!" But what you really get is a squashed piece of lukewarm crap.

Horribly paced, no plot, no ending, no laughs, no characters to really give a damn about .. this boring snooze fest was a real challenge to get through. I really wanted to like this movie but they did an awful job and I feel bad for the actors in it, who did the best they could with the direction and writing they were given.

Great job on the sets, that's the only positive thing I have to say. But what good is a great set when everything in it is terrible? It's like they stuck a turd inside a Faberge egg.

Sorry Liv! I still love you!

What a waste of a production! Of all concerned... time, energy and resources.

Even Anchorman (Ron Burgundy) needed an anchor! Some kind of a story arc to strap the 'funnies' onto. This film felt like a drawn out sketch, a ten minute comedy routine, stretched to it's very suffocation point.

It ran it's length, with no sense of urgency or that the story or it's characters were going anywhere. Just one unfunny and stilted scene after another. The film, like the interiors of the station, all felt cheap, non atmospheric and anti-cinematic. Yes, the CGI was well... CGI, and the sets, a cross between Space 1999 and Red Dwarf - were, if somehow lifeless... were still of their period. But the acting, was... directionless. You really can tell, that no one had any fun whilst making this movie.

And talking of laughs? ...were there any?

I don't know, if from seeing the poster... anyone is expecting 'Guardians of the Galaxy' type mayhem? But a very stilted and unfunny 'Ron Burgundy in space' impersonation... is what you'll feel you got.

When I first heard about this movie, I was quite interested in it. I grew up watching those sci-fi movies and TV shows from the 70s, all those leisure suits and haircuts and the wonderfully cheap special effects. Retro is my thing, and anything with punk in it – steampunk, dieselpunk, atompunk – so I was looking forward to seeing Space Station 76.

Now, for the positives: it was well made, well acted (especially from Liv Tyler, Patrick Wilson and young Kylie Rogers), well directed. In addition, it looked like something that could have been made in the Seventies, which was obviously the intention: the computer graphics, the smoking, the Valium, the beige, the videocassettes, the robot therapist (although the exterior space shots and interior zero- gravity scenes looked a little too good – no strings to be seen!).

Where it fell for me was the story. This is *not* a science fiction movie. It may be set in space and the future, with all the expected trappings, but it could just as easily had been set in a suburban street in the Seventies, or in a groovy apartment complex. The plot lines are all very human and Earthbound (and certainly not anything that would have been part of any movie or show from the era): the alcoholic, closeted gay Captain, the lonely little girl who can't keep her pets alive, the bitter couples in the broken, empty relationships where even affairs are just masturbation by proxy, and the infertile Assistant Captain who arrives onboard the station (although everyone keeps calling it a ship) unwittingly brings all the tensions to the surface. There's an asteroid headed for the station, an obvious metaphor for the proverbial lid that's about to blow among them, but it doesn't really play a part in all of this.

I had read the other reviews that warned not to expect Galaxy Quest, Spaceballs, Red Dwarf or other laugh out space comedies, and I'm not some neophyte cinephile unfamiliar with black comedy, but I had expected *some* laughs. I laughed once. More often than not, I was sad, which was more a testament to the performances. Billing this as a comedy, even a black comedy, is misleading.

To be honest, I'm not sure who this might be for: the sci-fi fans will be mostly disappointed, as will the comedy fans, and those looking some adult psychodrama might be confused by the retro-future setting.

This movie is awful, it's not sci-fi, it's not funny. I don't know how anyone associated with this would ever get another job in a movie production again. How they got Liv into this mess I'll never understand. Has her career gone down that much?

I have to agree with Quebec_Dragon, those people that gave rave reviews of this are just lying, they must be associated with this disaster.

Seems like they were going for that will ferrell, anchorman kinda thing but it just doesn't work. I wish I could get the time back I wasted on this. Do NOT believe those 10 star reviews. If you want to check it out just to see how dishonest those reviews are go ahead but you'll be sorry.

They should really ban those people from reviewing movies. Seriously if they actually liked this bore-fest they need help.

Really I try never to blast a movie too hard but this one is just do nothing boring

The opening of this film seemed very promising, I was hoping maybe something along the lines of Wes Anderson in space, but got a film filled with mostly unlikeable/uninteresting characters put in predictable situations. Don't get me wrong there is some good in this film, the cast is top notch even though they're not given much of a story to work with. The set pieces and costumes are also great, but other than that I can't really say this film has much else going for it. There are some comedic moments, but far too few to list.

When I first saw the poster and cast I was very intrigued and wasn't sure how a film with such an interesting premise and great cast could have such a poor score, but after watching it I completely understand.

The main issue with this film is that its entirely uneven, I understand that its supposed to be a comedy/drama, but the "comedy" is often lacking and off-putting. I would've preferred something more subtle than the raunchy moments we often received instead. The dramatic aspect is not much better but isn't really apparent until the final scenes when all of the characters become exposed. It just felt like I was watching an amalgamation of a soap opera and a sitcom, rather than a carefully intertwined dramedy/space-opera.

Again, this film could've been so much more, but it is what it is. Perhaps someone will view this and realize there is a much better film to be made here and a talented writer/director will take the reigns (I'm looking at you Wes Anderson, Joss Whedon, Michel Gondry, Charlie Kaufman, George Clooney, Paul Feig, Judd Apatow.. to name a few).

I would not recommend this movie unless you are into cheesy, boring, pointless space dramas. Character development was minimal to none. The depth of the characters just wasn't there. There was no definite plot other than a bunch of random people thrown together on a space station and petty arguments happen.

The only thing that was half-way decent were the special effects. They weren't too bad for a low budget space drama.

It almost has the feel of a spoof of early 70's space dramas. The jokes are very dry and weak attempt at humor. They may bring a little smile but not an actual laugh.

Pass over this one. It's not worth your time.

I really liked this film. It isn't the 'comedy' it's suggested that it might be if you read the DVD box etc, but I felt it dealt really well with the delicate topics of how to stop yourself going crazy in deep space and what you should do if it happens anyway. I especially liked it because: The soundtrack is awesome. The little girl is a great actor for one so young. Liv Tyler seemed really 'out there' in this, is she usually like that? Anyway, I liked it! The 70s setting etc was really good and the station furnishings were spot on! My favourite character is Dr Bot. He should have his own You Tube channel. (Maybe he already has?!)

Worth a watch if you like slightly 'out there' movies set in space that deal more with the complexities of the human mind than lashings of boring CGI.

I registered for an account just to start posting reviews on IMDb because I'm tired of all the fake 10-star reviews that are obviously posted by studios, family, and/or friends of the movie.

I love the actors in this movie (in the case of Liv Tyler probably closer to real love than it should be!), but honestly WHAT screenings were these reviewers at that had people laughing out loud so much? What movie were they watching that was "funny" and "enjoyable"? It's not this one.

"Space Station 76" is beautifully designed and shot with perfect tributes to the 70s style of movie-making. That's about it. That was worth 2 stars I think.

Dr. Bot was the only humorous part of the movie and given that it was a plastic toy really isn't enough to bump this movie up into "comedy" range. But Dr. Bot is amusing enough to add another star.

I understand dark comedies, black comedies, existential comedies... this movie just isn't ANY of these. It's just boring, plodding, pointless as the other more honest reviews have mentioned. Thankfully it only cost me a little over a buck to rent through the red kiosk, but even that seems like it was overpriced.

Skip this, please.

I went into this not wanting to watch it - and was left a little perplexed by the dislike for this film; as was my other half. I think part of it could be cultural and us Brits having a different sense of humour to Americans/Canadians (which is where this film has thus far been released).

Frankly, I found this a lot more entertaining than comedies like 'Bad Neighbors', 'This is the End', 'Pineapple Express', 'Hangover'... or basically anything with Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill or Michael Cera - these sort of films generally seem to unimpress me and make the rare list of things I end up turning off. I'm not saying they are terrible films... I'm just saying that *I* think they are terrible utter rubbish 'movies' (or rather, polished turds) that should have never been made. Again; probably my different sense of humour, contrastive to a lot of reviewers here who have echoed similar thoughts about Space Station 76.

Now, Space Station 76 isn't paced to have you laughing at every second - and it is deliberately slow as a film; rather, it's a window into daily life in space coupled with awkward discourse and events amongst the small community on the ship. It's evident this is going to end up as more of a cult movie: it deserves to be.

The sets are wonderfully put together and create a consistent sense of galactic immersion, the acting is brilliant, the cast is filled with a lot of familiar faces from great films and the comedy delivers well. Yes, it might not all be inoffensive - but it's pretty brilliant.

This is a great movie the way it is. Things do get a little dry at either end of the film but it's forgivable.

This is a very awkward movie. The humor is strange, there a lot of weird pauses and some might find the acting appalling. Or you can cherish the movies off tone and love it for being different. As you can see by my vote I did cherish it, but I do know that it's not for everybody. The movie does have a few bumps along the road, but overall I liked the subtle mood and the awkwardness it spreads all around.

Liv Tyler is playing it as soft and understated as possible and you might not think every joke is a hit, but if you buy into this you will have a lot of fun. There are quite a lot of jokes aimed at adults, which should be something to keep in mind. Does that sound intriguing to you? Then go ahead and watch it

This movie should be watch by all those did not live through the 70's. The movie shows all the thing wrong with the 70's people. This is not that crappy That 70's show, this is real dysfunctional people at their finest. I lived through the 70's as a kid, and I would not repeat them if I was paid a million dollars.

I would not watch this movie again if you paid me. Well maybe for a million dollars. Avoid watching this movie if you really have something better to do, like slamming your head in a car door, or just going outside and being part of the real humanity.

This movie has it all petty jealousy, hatred of different people, materialistic values ahead families and friends, and finally plain old child neglect. The only person in the whole movie I was interested in was the 7 year old, hoping she would grow up to have a normal life.