A Smile as Big as the Moon
A Smile as Big as the Moon
PG | 29 January 2012 (USA)
A Smile as Big as the Moon Trailers

Mike Kersjes is a special-education teacher and football coach in Michigan. Mike doesn’t talk down to his "special" students. He respects them, and he believes they’re capable of achieving great things. When Mike hears about Space Camp, a competitive education program at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, he gets an idea. Even though the program is designed for gifted science students, Mike decides participating in the summer program would do wonders for the self-esteem of his young students, one in particular who wants to be an astronaut.

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Reviews
Kailansorac

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

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BelSports

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

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Aiden Melton

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

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Cristal

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

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jaynel-20896

I had really looked forward to seeing this movie as i thought the subject matter was great, but I actually hated it - so superficial and banal and ridiculously sentimental and unbelievable. The acting was pretty awful all around but Louise Linton in particular was horrifyingly bad. She was supposedly a counselor for special education students but I thought she was completely unbelievable as an empathetic person. It seemed to me that her image was the most important thing to her and I could almost picture her directing every shot to make sure it highlighted her best profile. I can't believe she calls herself an actress - let's hope we don't see any more of her. Don't waste your time on this piece of fluff.

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SnoopyStyle

Mike Kersjes (John Corbett) is the special ed teacher and football coach. Robynn McKinney (Jessy Schram) is his eager new co-teacher. His students run the gamete along the behavioral problem spectrum. He struggles to make the program work and connect with his kids. Kersjes comes up with an idea to shoot for space camp. Camp director Dr. Deborah Barnhart (Cynthia Watros) is initially reluctant.The story is simple. The acting is anchored by a couple of good actors. Some of the kids seem to be played by real handicapped kids and they deliver some real emotional power. The overall story may not be that dramatic but there is plenty of goodness here especially in the little moments.

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toappleway

This film brought tears of Joy to my eyes as I watched it. Anyone who doesn't like this movie needs to have their emotions checked out!There are so many great aspects of this film..The kid actors were fabulous and of course John Corbett does a great job as always.. The guy who played the owner of Big Dan's was really good and the voice of the Space Camp judge I loved. The judge really made me feel like he was also pulling for these kids.This is one of the best TV movies I have seen in a long long time.. Way to go ABC and Hallmark!I would highly recommend this movie! The best part is you can watch it with you kids, not many movies I can say that about.

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vchimpanzee

In this fact-based Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation, Mike Kersjes is a special education teacher and football coach at Forest Hills Northern High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1988.On a field trip to a planetarium, Mike's easily distracted students start misbehaving and are taken out. The school is informed that the students shouldn't come back. Ben, who has Down's Syndrome, took a bunch of brochures for space camp in Huntsville, Alabama, and once they are back on the bus, he hands them out to the other students, and even after arriving home, Ben wants to go to space camp.It's a crazy idea, but Mike is willing to consider this because he believes such an experience will be good for his kids, who are often told what they can't do and not given chances to prove what they can do. His co-teacher Robynn tries to talk Mike out of it but if Mike is told no, he says he won't pursue it further. Mike is told no and asks to speak to a supervisor. Then he is essentially told no once again but given the option of submitting a proposal. Which he does, despite being told he is out of his mind by Principal Keller. But Ben's father is on the school board and can go over the principal's head.The kids like the idea, and Mike and Robynn travel to Huntsville to meet with Col. Wechsler, who has the final say. Believe it or not, even though Dr. Barnhart has shown the teachers what is involved and tried to discourage Mike from continuing to pursue this, the mission is a go. As long as Mike can raise the $50,000 required to get the kids there. And as long as the kids successfully complete the training required to make sure they can benefit from the experience rather than embarrassing themselves and the school and guaranteeing no other "special" children will get to attend space camp. And as long as the kids don't do anything else to get in trouble so the principal can definitely say no.It's an uphill battle. And many of the other students at the school, including the football players who start feeling their head coach is neglecting them, continue to make fun of these "losers". What they will have to learn to do is what Jackie Robinson learned to do (though he isn't mentioned, this pioneer in baseball had to endure all sorts of abuse without fighting back).These kids are not losers, of course. One man who knows that is Big Dan, who has Ben and one of the other boys working in one of his burger restaurants. He wishes all his employees were as good as they are. And most of the kids have specific talents. Some are even geniuses in their own way but can't function in a normal classroom. They just have to learn to use their strengths and work together.You know if the movie was made, they somehow made it to Huntsville and probably conducted themselves admirably. Sure, there may still be obstacles even there, but so what? They made it, right?Everyone does a good job in this movie. John Corbett carries the movie capably and pushes the children to do their best. Jessy Schram is not merely pretty but a fine assistant in Mike's efforts. Her best scene is the one in Huntsville that apparently makes all the difference. Robynn is from the South and knows how to be charming in the way other Southerners expect.All the young actors with lines do a good job (I seem to recall several kids who didn't have lines but made the trip). Whether the actors are disabled or not I can't say, but either way they all did really well. Any actors who aren't disabled are quite convincing as kids with problems, and all of the kids make us care. And if they are disabled, they have quite a challenge but meet the standard.Logan Huffman is the standout member of the group; Scott is dyslexic but constantly asks to be put in with the "normal" students; he takes tests to prove he can function in regular classes, but eventually stops making fun of the others and starts working with them. And Mike wants him to be a leader, which he doesn't believe he can be. Oh, yes, he can.Space camp is everything it needs to be. It really looks like training for astronauts, and teaches the viewers about the science and the various challenges astronauts face.And all of this can be watched by the whole family. There is some name-calling and minor violence, but nothing objectionable.The term "The Right Stuff" is used here. This movie has that.

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