Peña soars in against-all-odds astronaut story
Hollywood has long plumbed the depths of unlikely hero tales. No matter how many Rocky knock-offs the studios churn out, they never seem to tire of downtrodden and impoverished characters who must overcome great odds to lift themselves into a higher station in life. From Rocky to Rudy to Erin Brockovich, Hidden Figures and, most recently, Flamin’ Hot, these tales lift us up and inspire us even as they fight to be unique. So who can blame director Alejandra Márquez Abella for trying her hand at this well-worn but lucrative formula with her new biopic A Million Miles Away? Luckily for us, though, her effort proves to be an excellent addition to the familiar genre.