Synopsis – Marketing maven Kelly Jones wreaks havoc on launch director Cole Davis’s already difficult task. When the White House deems the mission too important to fail, Jones is directed to stage a fake moon landing as back-up.

My Take – I think we all have heard about the unbreakable conspiracy theory that the moon landing was faked. For about half a century, hoaxes about the Apollo 11 landing, which saved NASA’s face after the disastrous failure of Apollo 1 (that killed all three crew members), have only grown.

One of the mast famous theories among them being that late cinematic auteur Stanley Kubrick directed the whole thing on a stage, and then made The Shining (1980) as his confession to the world.

Now, about 55 years later after Neil Armstrong took that one giant leap for mankind onto the lunar surface, for his latest, director Greg Berlanti (Love, Simon), who is working from a story by Bill Kirstein and Keenan Flynn and a screenplay by writer Rose Gilroy, heads back to the space race and taps into the mythology surrounding the 1969 moon landing, but all under the guise of an old-school breezy workplace romantic comedy.

Anchored by Channing Tatum and Scarlett Johansson‘s fantastic lead performances, the film expertly weaves historical elements with fictional flair, creating an entertaining and captivating story that resonates with audiences.

Though, the core story revolves around the possibility of staging a fake moon landing, the interactions and developments between the characters truly drive the fun, quirky film.

Moreover, it explores the idea that the space race was more a battle of ideologies than the triumph of mankind, all while being charming enough to rocket past its flaws. But most importantly, the film is okay to not aim for the Moon making it a perfectly adequate feel-good caper.

Set during the 1960s Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union, the story follows Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson), an ace marketing executive with skeletons in her closet who is hired by Moe Berkus (Woody Harrelson), a deep state operative, to use her PR skills to change NASA’s flagging public image.

Simply told, Kelly’s campaign must convince wavering public and politicians that showering tax-dollars on the Apollo moon mission is still a good idea. And of course, since America is in a race with Russia to get to the moon and the President wants to have a win.

While the rebranding and the advertising set ups are something up Kelly’s alley, what she didn’t expect is to fall for the straight guy launch director Cole Davis (Channing Tatum), who is still reeling from the deaths of the Apollo 1 astronauts, and is not happy with the unnecessary publicity and worries about the scrutiny his employees may receive.

However, things take an awkward turn when Moe, upon learning about certain problems on the current mission, orders Kelly to hire a film-making team and secretly shoot a fake alternative landing in a makeshift studio in case the real one tanked.

While the space program forms the main crux, the push-and-pull between Cole and Kelly is the foundation of the film’s biggest stories: The actual lead-up to the Apollo 11 mission and the opposites-attract romance between honest NASA loyalist Cole and Kelly, who can spin anything into a compelling pitch thanks to some loose morals.

As written by Rose Gilroy, both characters go beyond simple archetypes, and their clashing personalities only make their unfolding relationship even more compelling. There’s loads to make you laugh here, and the film adds just the right amount of political context and clever jabs to not overpower it and morph it into something else entirely.

Director Berlanti’s direction ensures that the humor is not just a series of punchlines but is seamlessly integrated into the story line. For instance, Kelly’s ability to transform into another person to get what she wants is amusing. Genuine, heartfelt scenes that delve into the characters’ motivations and vulnerabilities counterbalance these moments of lightness, fostering a sense of connection and empathy with the audience.

As the film progresses, it becomes more of a tribute to the spirit of innovation and the drive to achieve the impossible. The backdrop of the Apollo 11 mission serves as a reminder of humanity’s most outstanding achievements, and the film’s fictional twist adds a layer of intrigue that entertains the audience throughout.

Sure, at a certain point, the run time of the film is felt. There were many times it felt like it had reached a suitable endpoint, only to realize there was still more to wrap up. But because I enjoyed the characters and the atmosphere so much, I was willing to forgive the frequent false endings. It helps that the two leads ground everything with their earnest performances.

Scarlett Johansson shines as Kelly Jones, an intelligent marketing expert hired to boost NASA’s public image. Her charm and wit set the tone for a film filled with humor and quirky moments. Her character brings a nostalgic yet refreshing energy to the film. Johansson‘s ability to effortlessly switch between comedic timing, dramatic intensity and alluring wit still remains unmatched in Hollywood.

Channing Tatum provides a perfect complement to Johansson. He brings a certain soldier-like measured earnestness to his Cole Davis, a man haunted by his failure on Apollo 10 and determined to get it right this time. He’s the perfect counter to Johansson’s extroverted salesperson, who doesn’t mind twisting a few truths to get her way.

In supporting roles, Woody Harrelson fully commits to a role that is probably the closest to an antagonist. Ray Romano is a surprisingly heartfelt role as Cole’s second-in-command, Henry, bringing depth to a character who sometimes disappears from the narrative. Anna Garcia adds a sweet extra layer to the story that, unlike other elements, never felt extraneous, and gave Garcia the chance to make Ruby more than a stock character.

The most fun to watch, however, is Jim Rash as the genius, tantrum-throwing filmmaker Lance Vespertine, who is tasked with shooting the Moon landing.

In other roles, Noah Robbins, Colin Woodell, Nick Dillenburg and Donald Elise Watkins adds depth to the story by bringing unique perspectives and contributing to the film’s overall charm. On the whole, ‘Fly Me to the Moon‘ is a charming old-fashioned romance with a unique setting and a right mix of comedy and drama.

 

 

Directed – Greg Berlanti

Starring – Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Woody Harrelson

Rated – PG13

Run Time – 132 minutes