The true story of José Hernandez (Michael Peña), a Mexican immigrant who grew up to become an engineer and eventually the first former migrant worker turned NASA astronaut.
Definitely full of heart and eager to showcase a specific Latino community/culture, director Alejandra Márquez Abella builds a world that feels warm and familiar. The vibe here is very much Latino biopic meets Disney live-action. If that sounds like your kind of movie, then A Million Miles Away will be a more than satisfying experience.
Before I get to my lone hangup, I do want to mention that there are things that I (as a Latino) really appreciate about this film. The fact that most of the familial dialogue is in Spanish, a soundtrack which perfectly drives home a particular nostalgic feel and the chemistry between actors Peña and Rosa Salazar (who plays Adela, the wife of Hernandez) all work to create a far better viewing experience than I’d initially anticipated. My only criticism of a film like this is that it is family friendly to a fault.
I dislike using “family friendly” as a pejorative. But when what we get is a story about a man who worked in the fields with his family, then worked in an office building where he was seemingly the only brown face, and then enters the space program against all odds, and the end result feels instantly watered down, the term “family friendly” in this instance will translate into an unnecessarily corny viewing experience for some. Every hardship Hernandez goes through is addressed with a PG rating in mind, and at times I felt like I was watching something more interested in driving home an inspirational message, rather than showcasing an authentic story. While I do appreciate that movies like these are made about important and often forgotten historical Latino figures, the subject matter here warranted more cinematic authenticity and grittiness.
Final Thought: There is a place for movies like these. A family movie night perhaps. It wouldn’t surprise me if a year from now A Million Miles Away was playing in elementary schools during Hispanic Heritage Month. Hell, I’m quite sure once my Mexican mother sees this movie, it will be her favorite film of the year. And there is nothing wrong with any of that. A movie made with good intentions, love for its characters and clearly engaging enough to disregard the telegraphed nature of the story beats, this is a film I’d feel good recommending. I simply want to praise this more than the film will allow.
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