After leaving TV's popular "The Andy Griffith Show", Don Knotts gave movie stardom a valiant try with a series of inane but matinée-pleasing comedy vehicles. Unfortunately, "The Reluctant Astronaut", filmed on the cheap (as were most of Knotts' movies), is much worse than his others. Don plays a small town schnook who gets accepted to Astronaut Training camp...but not as a candidate for space travel--they want him as their janitor! Some may say the weak satire capitalizes on America's fever for the new age of technology, but the flick is really just a dim excuse to keep restless children occupied. It gets off to a good start with an OK set-up and nostalgic locations, but becomes increasingly more spiritless and idiotic. * from ****
Review of The Reluctant Astronaut
