'Hidden Figures' is a marvelously entertaining film. Embodying the dual meaning of the movie's title, Katherine works out the hidden figures needed for Glenn's mission and Jim doesn't mind that her figure is hidden beneath those unflattering 1960s dresses, as he comes to care more about her heart – and the very sharp mind hidden behind her even less flattering eye glasses. Jim Johnson (Mahershala Ali), who is also single.

Katherine also attracts a different kind of attention from the commander of a local Army Reserve base, Lt. Eventually, she earns the respect of her peers – and comes to the attention of astronaut John Glenn (Glen Powell) himself, who comes to trust her calculations above all others.

Even as Katherine continues to demonstrate her capabilities, she is still subjected to drinking coffee from a pot labeled 'Colored' and having to walk 20 minutes (each way) to the building where the nearest restroom for black females is located. As the most talented mathematician of all of NASA's human computers, she is called up to work in NASA's Space Task Group where she works directly with the standoffish Paul Stafford (Jim Parsons) and is supervised by the group's director, Al Harrison (Kevin Costner). But most of the screen time belongs to Katherine's story. Mary continues to make valuable contributions to NASA's efforts, while trying to work through the catch-22 of needing additional education to become an engineer, with the only nearby school offering such classes refusing to accept any black students. Dorothy has been managing the women of the computer section for some time, but has to fight for the title and the pay – and even takes it upon herself to learn more about NASA's newly-arrived IBM computer, while understanding that doing so could eventually cost her and her co-workers their jobs. All three women make progress in their attempts to reach their goals and fulfill their potential, but with much difficulty, based on their gender and their race. Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) is an outspoken aspiring engineer who is held back from becoming an actual engineer because of her lack of education, which she has difficulty overcoming because of segregation. Henson) is a brilliant mathematician who struggles to balance the demands of her increasing responsibilities at NASA with caring for her three young daughters whose father has passed away. Dorothy Vaughn (Oscar winner Octavia Spencer) is a mathematician who is also mechanically-inclined, develops a talent for programming IBM computers and is a natural leader, but is denied a well-deserved supervisory position by NASA culture – and her supervisor (Kirsten Dunst). Back when electronic computers (with only a fraction of the capacity and speed of today's mainframes) took up an entire room – and were just beginning to be installed in places like NASA – talented mathematicians did calculations for the space program by hand. That's not to say that they worked on computers – THEY were the computers. The film is an adaptation of Margot Lee Shetterly's book of the same name and follows three black women who worked in NASA's computer section in 1961. That's a lot for one movie – and might be too much for many – but 'Hidden Figures' is up to the challenge.

Without being too busy or too preachy, this film helps the audience better appreciate the struggles of being a minority – and a working woman (and even a mother working outside the home) – in the early 1960s, the pressure involved in competing with the Soviet Union in the early years of the space race, the difficult challenges surrounding getting man into space (and returning him safely to earth) for the first time and the courage it required of those who were willing to go. There are few ways to enhance appreciation for others more effectively than a well-made movie and the 2016 historical drama 'Hidden Figures' (PG, 2:07) takes full advantage of that opportunity. It's a condition which requires information and understanding and results in increased compassion, acceptance and inclusiveness.

Katherine johnson nasa legend