Review of The Reluctant Astronaut

Another classic choice by the staff at Camp Ma-Ho-Ge in Upstate New York for Thursday movie night for all those bored campers from Long Island and New Rochelle, New York. While all the hippies and yippies assembled down the road for a three day rockfest called Woodstock. Us unfortunate campers watched these cheesy light comedies to pass the early evenings away. The Reluctant Astronaut is about an amusement park ride operator(Roy Fleming) played by the very timid and acrophobia laden Don Knotts. Clad in full Astronaut attire Roy Operates a space capsule ride with a bunch of children seated around him as he announces the destinations of deep space complete with meteor shower as outside the capsule the venerable Burt Mustin throws rocks at the space ride for full effect. Our journey from space end abruptly as Pamelyn Ferdin whispers to Roy, "I have to go to the bathroom." Quickest landing in history. Roy is so deathly afraid of heights that he need assistance to exit the ride as Burt helps him down each step. Roy has a girlfriend who also works at the park Ellie played by Joan Freeman. They plan on getting married soon but trouble ensues at home as Roy's learns that his obtrusive,overbearing Father Buck (Arthur O'Connell), enlisted him for the NASA space program in Houston, Texas. Buck is a proud World War One Vet and loves to reminisce about his days in the trenches. Roy would just love to have his to shaky feet planted firmly on the ground. Roy tried to tell his Dad otherwise but before he could respond there he was on the tarmack of Sweetwater Airport with luggage heading south for Houston. Roy is petrified of flying so he walks around the plane and heads for a deserted bus stop that just happens to go to Houston. This is unexplained throughout the picture and is a running gag throughout the movie.Upon his arrival Roy is greeted by Astronaut Fred Gifford (Leslie Neilson) who takes a liking to the befuddled puny man with sloppy packed suitcase. Roy meets with his supervisor the loud and domineering Jesse White.Jesse barks out his work detail to a attentive Roy who realizes that his Father enrolled him in a janitorial job at the airbase rather than training for deep space. Roy is relegated to mop from space to space up to the far reaches of the hallway. Roy inadvertently gets into a picture of Astronauts while on his shift and the photo reaches his local Newspaper. Father Buck Fleming thinks his boy is on his way training in the riggers of deep space but anything is far from that truth. Roy quickly asks his supervisor for a leave of absence to returns home and set the record straight. Roy arrives to a hero's welcome with friends and relatives all around as Roy is fielding questions and giving janitorial answers. All that time Roy couldn't tell his Father the truth about being a WB 1074 Janitorial engineer rather than a Rugged Spaceman. Roy was about to spill his situation as janitor but his Father interrupts him and tells him he was no World War One Hero but a librarian who stayed State side. Roy asked, "But what about your injury to your shoulder?" Buck responded by saying, "The Encyclopedia Britannica fell on it!" Roy returns to Houston as promised and continued sweeping and mopping his way across the celestial linoleum. More trouble ensues as Buck and his two friends travel down to Houston to visit Roy in action. Roy is warned as the three Sweetwater Men walks the outside grounds of the space center. Roy continues the ruse wearing Fred Gifford's space suit and getting mixed up with dangerous equipment which causes more problems for Roy at every turn. Will Roy ever get the chance to reach space? I think with a few drinks at a local tavern and the help of a few scientist and Astronaut friends things just might work out. This movie personally hits home for the child with pushy parents making them do stuff they don't want to do. The comedy is consistent and the story has a good cadence with little gaps and little chatter. Physical scenes and cinematography show the scary effects of vertigo as Roy battles his fears. A must see for any Don knotts fan and these movie keep their uniformity in the Knotts genre if there is such a thing with comedy as the numerator and fear as the common denominator.