Spaceman

Maybe those Alien marketing gurus were right: In space, no one can hear you scream. More specifically, in Spaceman, what happens when you have a complete mental breakdown with nobody there to support you?

This deeply introspective character study about grief and human connection probes the solitude and intense psychological toll of an extended solo space mission, which marks familiar big-screen thematic territory.

Downbeat yet sincere, the latest dramatic vehicle for actor Adam Sandler again showcases his versatility, even if the result isn’t as provocative or profound as intended.

He plays Jakub, whose motives for piloting the first Czech space capsule to research the solar system reveal that he’s haunted by past tragedies, insecure about his relationships, and tortured by his conscience.

All things considered, things seem to be going well six months into his odyssey, for which he’s considered a hero back home. However, he’s wondering why communication has ceased with his wife (Carey Mulligan). It turns out she’s leaving him, and the mission chief (Isabella Rossellini) has blocked her message saying so.

The suspicious Jakub tries to remain composed as he internally unravels. “I don’t want your mental well-being to call this mission into question,” insists Peter (Kunal Nayyar), his confidant at mission control.

Weightlessness applies to his outlook on life in addition to his zero-gravity surroundings. Lines begin to blur between fantasy and reality, and a balky toilet is the least of his concerns.

Jakub begins interacting with a giant spider-like creature (voiced by Paul Dano, doing a worthy HAL 9000 impersonation) who may or may not exist only in his imagination. Through their philosophical interactions, we learn that his feelings of isolation aren’t limited to his time aboard the vessel.

The turbulence near Jupiter seems mild compared to whether he can complete the journey, or what he might find whenever he returns to Earth.

As captured stylishly by Swedish director Johan Renck (“Chernobyl”), the claustrophobic setting lends a persistent unease as Jakub navigates a surreal and cathartic journey that’s both internal and intergalactic.

However, the deliberately paced screenplay — adapted from a novel by Czech author Jaroslav Kalfar — seems driven by contrivances and manipulations that create a frustrating emotional distance for its central love story.

Eventually, Spaceman starts to spin its narrative wheels rather than inspiring a sense of wonder or discovery. Along the way, it becomes lost in the cosmos.

Rated R, 107 minutes.