Stars: Emma Roberts, Tom Hopper, Poppy Liu, Gabrielle Union, Kuhoo Verma, Desi Lydic, Sebastián Yatra, Sam Robards, Dave Foley, Josephine Huang | Written and Directed by Liz W. Garcia

Space Cadet, which stars Emma Roberts as Florida party girl Rex, who finds herself unexpectedly becoming an astronaut candidate, comes from director by Liz W. Garcia, who brings a refreshing spin to the beloved “fish out of water” trope,

infused with a female-centric narrative that reminded me very much of classics such as the 80s Goldie Hawn-led duo of Protocol and Private Benjamin – which itself inspired a similar “fish out of water” military comedy in 2002s Cadet Kelly; along with the likes of Miss Congeniality (2000) and Legally Blonde, released a year later in 2001.

Garcia’s film very much echoes Legally Blonde and Miss Congeniality thematically, both of which featured strong, independent women – played by Reese Witherspoon and Sandra Bullock respectively – who...