tom wolfe write a terrific book and this movie do nothing but improve on it . a masterful take on the original mercury program . see it a dozen time . keep get well . funny a hell in some part and flag wavin patriotic at others and entertain from start to finish . like the wolfe book and which it follow pretty closely and it provide you with a truckload of information about the astronaut and the program that nasa do not want reveal in the midst of the cold war . so youre get an education the easy way . it seem that just about the entire cast have their first major breakthrough on right stuff . remarkable acting by all concerned party . donald moffat ( i hate to single any one actor out in this movie for special attention ) do a turn a lbj that belong in the satire hall of fame . the editing be perfect . this movie be around 3 hour long and it just fly by . great use of archival footage from nasa . it an epic film that never feel like an epic film . great moviemaking . ( and i be wait for someone to make a film out of wolfe a man in full . if james garner be read this . there an oscar with your name on it and jim . get the part . ) and by all mean and let the kid watch right stuff with you . this be what they mean by a movie the whole family can love . just start it early enough to get em to bed on time .