'Good Night Oppy' film review: Exhilarating tribute to a resilient, pioneering Mars mission
The Martian expedition documentary 'Good Night Oppy' (opening in select cities Nov. 4 and streaming on Prime Video starting Nov. 23) is a harrowing and inspiring adventure that reignites the irrepressible spirit of exploration.
In short: The story of Opportunity, nicknamed Oppy, a robotic Mars rover that originally was expected to operate for only 90 sols but explored Mars for nearly 15 years. Features narration by Angela Bassett.
Several years ago, 'Nova' produced a one-hour episode entitled 'Is There Life on Mars?,' which was a perfectly straightforward summation of the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) program. It plainly detailed the mission objectives and some issues that troubled the rovers. No frills - just informational.
Whereas 'Nova' went the informational route, filmmaker Ryan White's documentary is a stirring and inspiring portrait of exploration that borrows from the best of 'Wall-E' and 'The Martian.' This documentary absolutely captures the genuine affection Oppy's Earth-based creators developed for the plucky little robot. Yes Oppy and her robot-twin sister Spirit are man-made machines, yet it's impossible not to fear for them as they brave Martian sandstorms. As one of the film's interviewee says, the NASA team saw the two sister robots as more than "just a box of wires" - and White's film is defined by the pioneering spirit that connects Earth-bound team with their two intrepid robot explorers.
This is an unabashedly nerdy and inspiring celebration of problem solving. 'Oppy' chronicles the mission's entire life cycle - from its conceit to its belated conclusion. At every turn, various logistical and unexpected obstacles imperil the mission and the survival of the twin robots - and it's impossible not to get swept up in the emotional ride as the plucky NASA engineers solve one problem after another. There's a hint of 'The Martian' in 'Good Night Oppy,' inasmuch as fictional astronaut Mark Watney explaining how he survived after being stranded on Mars: "You do the math. You solve one problem, then you solve the next one." From the outset no one expected Oppy or Spirit to last more than 90 days - 'Good Night Oppy' celebrates the achievement of their long-lived journey across the Martian surface.
'Oppy' might be light on the engineering and specs of what allowed the two robots endure the harsh Mars environment for so long. And perhaps other TV shows or specials break down the MER mission more comprehensively. But this film is more invested in the spirit of the Mars Exploration Rover program than just the mission profile. For a film anchored by two robots, 'Oppy' is a surprisingly soulful experience - from how elegantly the film breathes life into Oppy and Spirit, to pondering the fundamentally existential purpose of the Rover mission - the search for life elsewhere in the universe.
'Good Night Oppy' can inspire the next generation to take the next step in space exploration - a trail partly blazed by two robots on Mars and their loving crew of humans back on Earth. More than a decade after NASA ended the space shuttle program and 50 years after NASA put a man on the moon, this documentary has the power to re-ignite the spark of curiosity. And perhaps one person who embraces the film's love for space and exploration grows up to become one of the first humans to set foot on Mars.
Final verdict: 'Good Night Oppy' is a perfect film for anyone young or old who has ever looked up at the stars at night in wonder. Infused with nail-biting tension and pure elation, 'Oppy' is an uplifting, crowd-pleasing celebration of determination, innovation and exploration.
Score: 4/5
'Good Night Oppy' screened during SIFF DocFest 2022, opens select cities on Nov 4 and streams on Amazon Prime Video starting Nov. 23. This documentary has a runtime of 105 minutes and is rated PG for some mild language.
