Fly Me to the Moon is a story loosely inspired by real events about selling the moon landing. Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson) is an exceptional marketer. With empathy as her superpower, Kelly can sell anything to anyone. She learns what they care most about and uses that leverage to connect them to a product. This time, the product is NASA’s mission. By 1969, the American public has become increasingly apathetic about the astronaut program. Moe Burkus (Woody Harrelson), on orders from President Nixon, aims to change that using Kelly’s skills. Moe inserts Kelly into NASA with the intention of making space sexy again to the general populace. Unfortunately, her methods irk Cole Davis (Channing Tatum), the launch director for the Apollo 11 initiative. He sees Kelly as a massive distraction and disturbance. Cole values focus and discipline; Kelly wants the spectacle. But they agree on one thing: landing on the moon and connecting people to it may be one of the most important milestones in human history.
What works in Fly Me to the Moon is the breezy romantic comedy nestled into playful revisionist history. Tatum and Johansson have fantastic chemistry. They do a wonderful job embracing embattled archetypes. Cole is the stoic, hardened ex-pilot who would bleed for NASA. Kelly is a mysterious woman of whimsy. Director Greg Berlanti (Doom Patrol; Love, Simon) succeeds in finding cute ways to demonstrate how these two people approach a situation with different perspectives and find common ground. In addition, the sharp script from first-time writer Rose Gilroy does a clever job weaving fact and fiction. The story teases out the potential origins of conspiracy theories with an abundance of winks. The result is a film that is incredibly light, enjoyable, and entertaining.
RELATED: X-Men: Apocalypse’s Mister Sinister Post-Credits Scene Would Have Set Up Channing Tatum’s Gambit Movie
People who tire of the rom com formula, or who prefer historical depictions to be wholly accurate, may not enjoy Fly Me to the Moon as much as others. The dance between Cole and Kelly will likely feel incredibly familiar. They meet, they clash; they fight, they make up; they grow close, then apart, etc. The structure of the narrative is tried and true, like a playbook that refuses retirement. While some may embrace this like one’s favorite blanket, others might roll their eyes as the relationship evolves. In terms of history, Fly Me to the Moon leans heavy on the descriptors “inspired by.” Neither Cole nor Kelly were real people, but rather amalgamized representations of various individuals. The changes are clearly in jest for humor’s sake, but some viewers may yearn for a more realistic version of the work leading up to the moon landing.
Fly Me to the Moon is like a warm cup of cocoa. When the mood strikes for a film in this genre, Fly Me to the Moon will satisfy. It is content to be a small, good movie (and the world could always use more of those). With strong writing, directing, and performances, Fly Me to the Moon comes highly recommended.
Recommended if you enjoyed: Wag the Dog, Operation Mincemeat,
Fly Me to the Moon is now available for purchase or rent on digital platforms.
FOR FANBOYS, BY FANBOYS
Have you checked out LRM Online’s official podcasts and videos on The Genreverse Podcast Network? Available on YouTube and all your favorite podcast apps, This multimedia empire includes The Daily CoG, Breaking Geek Radio: The Podcast, GeekScholars Movie News, Anime-Versal Review Podcast, and our Star Wars dedicated podcast The Cantina. Check it out by listening on all your favorite podcast apps, or watching on YouTube!
Subscribe on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | SoundCloud | Stitcher | Google Play
