Some of the best stories are the most inspiring ones, but biopics can fail the very real people they’re based on. This is especially true if the film in question is focused more on the message than the person at its center. Directed by Alejandra Márquez Abella from a screenplay by her, Bettina Gilois, and Hernán Jiménez, A Million Miles Away is based on the true story of José Hernández, a Mexican-American son of a farmworker who dreamed of becoming an astronaut and going to space. A Million Miles Away is genuine in the way it presents its story, and the struggle Hernández endures, but it’s also so laser-focused on his space goals that it forgets to explore his inner life.
José Hernández (Juan Pablo Monterrubio) has long harbored dreams of becoming an astronaut and working for NASA. His elementary school teacher, Miss Young (Michelle Krusiec) sees how gifted he is in math and believes he can go far. After paying a visit to his family, who travel to different farms in California for work, José’s father (Julio César Cedillo) decides to keep the family in Stockton so that José doesn’t miss anything in school. Years later, the adult José (Michael Peña) is now an engineer who lands a job he wants his parents to be proud of. But he never forgets about his astronaut goals, constantly applying to NASA’s space program, only to receive one rejection after the other. With the support of his wife Adela (Rosa Salazar), José works to gain the skills needed for NASA’s rejection to turn into an acceptance.
The biopic has a lot of heart, and there are quite a few touching moments. The story is fueled by José’s perseverance and tenacity in the face of rejection. Achieving a dream takes its toll on José’s family over the years, and A Million Miles Away doesn’t shy away from showcasing how hard one’s singular goals can be on everyone they’re close to. There is a lot of sacrifice, frustration, and guilt, and the biographical drama is attuned to how such feelings affect José’s relationships, especially the one he shares with Adela, whose own dreams are often put on hold while she takes on the brunt of family responsibility. The script is gentle in its handling of José’s personal life, and that is reflected in the way Márquez Abella frames the scenes. The director is able to show — be it through montages and individual scenes — the resilience and strength it takes to overcome obstacles.
Peña is also able to elevate the film through his performance, his portrayal conveying the undeterred spirit of José’s plight. It doesn’t always help that the film doesn’t delve deeper into José’s interiority, but the actor does a lot with the material provided, showcasing the myriad of emotions his character experiences at every turn. The scene stealer is perhaps Salazar, who does some profound work with the little she is given. A Million Miles Away rarely gives her more to do beyond the role of supportive wife, but it at least engages with the frustration she feels about José’s dreams, and how they have occasionally stifled her own. Throughout the film, Salazar is impressive, conveying Adela’s love, irritation, support, and fears; they’re written on her face so clearly, even if she doesn’t always give voice to them.
And while the biopic is a story for those who dream big despite the hurdles life can throw, or the inequality built into the system, it glosses over much of José’s personal life to the detriment of the overall story. José’s entire personality revolves around his dream of being an astronaut; it practically suffocates his character, preventing any further development beyond that single goal. He and Adela might run into conflict, but it’s a bit jarring when their conversations — especially as it pertains to her disquiet — are cut short. Characterizations are underdeveloped in general, and there could have been more time spent on other aspects of José’s life and relationships, providing him and the film with more depth.
That aside, A Million Miles Away is a good-natured, feel-good, and heartfelt biopic. It has enough to keep you engaged and José Hernández’s story is one to root for, his dreams, persistence, and ambition taking front and center. And though it doesn’t delve too much beyond the surface, the film gets its point across and does so in a touching way. The buildup at least leads to an emotionally satisfying conclusion that is sure to tug at the heartstrings regardless of some of the character development it left behind along the way.
A Million Miles Away is now streaming on Prime Video. The film is 121 minutes long and rated PG for thematic elements and language.
