**SpaceCamp** is an odd ball. It starts out very badly, using all the 80s teenage flick cliches in the book. The cliches are always there, but a couple of clever twists shift things into higher gear.

While no one will mistake set designs and special effects in **SpaceCamp** for **Apollo 13** and **Gravity**, they are surprisingly competent and effective. And while the film obviously takes a generous amount of liberties, many things that happen are at least very remotely plausible.

The cast does a serviceable job. **Joaquin Phoenix** is barely recognizable as an annoying child genius and you will probably recognize most of the primary cast members. Only **Kate Capshaw** plays her role with dignity and does her best with what she's given.

Aside from a couple of plot twists, the film is very predictable. But it is executed a lot better than it deserved to be and I was surprisingly entertained.

All in all, **SpaceCamp** feels like a made-for-TV movie but fairly entertaining, particularly for younger viewers.