The Reluctant Astronaut (1967)

In the sleepy town of Sweetwater, Missouri, resides the unassuming and gentle-natured Roy Fleming. A 35-year-old amusement ride operator, Roy spends his days navigating children through simulated space adventures, while nursing a fear of heights that firmly grounds him. His life orbits around the comfort of his parents' home, the carnival, and Ellie Jackson, his hometown sweetheart. Roy's father, Arbuckle Fleming, is a celebrated WWI Army veteran, who dreams of his son ascending to heroic heights, quite literally. He imagines Roy as an astronaut, a vision so powerful that he secretly sends applications to the space program on his son's behalf. This dream is lightyears away from Roy's grounded reality, a man who trembles at the thought of flight. Yet, to his utter shock, one of these applications is accepted. With a mix of fear and resignation, Roy arrives in Houston, only to discover that the cosmic role he'd been pitched is far from the astronaut his father envisioned. He is to be a janitor at the space center. With the weight of his father's dreams in one hand and the broom of a janitor in the other, Roy finds himself in a predicament. He can either shatter his father's dreams or weave a space-age deception. Choosing the latter, Roy embarks on a risky charade, convincing his family, friends, and Ellie that he is indeed in astronaut training. He navigates this intricate web of lies, tumbling from one comedic misadventure to another, always teetering on the edge of being exposed. Caught in the crosshairs of the escalating space race between the Americans and the Russians, Roy's ruse spirals into unexpected territories. 'The Reluctant Astronaut' is a farcical journey of a man who accidentally steps into the world of space exploration, only to confront his deepest fears and emerge as an unlikely hero. The storyline weaves together the charm of small-town life, the thrill of space adventures, and the timeless human yearning for greatness. Buckle up for a cosmic ride filled with laughter, surprises, and heartwarming moments.

The Reluctant Astronaut is a comedy movie featuring Don Knotts and directed by Edward Montagne.

The Reluctant Astronaut is currently streaming on DIRECTV.