Fly Me To The Moon Review: Alexa, play Fly Me To the Moon by Frank Sinatra because I cannot stop humming the song since I finished watching the latest Hollywood film by the same title concluded on a rainy Wednesday evening. ‘Fly Me To the Moon’ stars Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum in the lead. While on the surface it seems like a story about the highs and lows of the Apollo missions to the Moon, as the film plays out, you realise it is an adorable love story, with a refreshing backdrop.
Directed by Greg Berlanti, best known to develop projects such as Arrow, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and helmed films like Love, Simon and Life as We Know It, Fly Me To The Moon is fortunately high on love and adds only zests of patriotism, making it a fun watch. The film revolves around a NASA official, Cole Davis (Tatum) overseeing the Apollo projects and a marketing executive, Kelly Jones (Johansson). While Cole has put in years to take America to the Moon, Kelly is tasked to market the patriotic idea. Through the journey, sparks fly between Cole and Kelly, and while they unknowingly fall for each other, they find themselves tackling politics, lies and the big Moon.
To top it off, they dabble with one of the biggest conspiracies of space history — Did America fake their moon landing? The film cheekily weaves in this conspiracy to make it the heart of the second half and I must say, it’s done effortlessly.
Fly Me To The Moon stands out because of its set up. When it came to NASA-themed films, we’ve often been presented with movies that are high on patriotism. However, Berlanti chooses to take the love route, adding a fictional element into the historic moment, and honestly it works. Tatum and Johansson set the screen on fire with their acting prowess and their chemistry. They are easy to the eye and their moments, although limited, are laced with charm.
Johansson goes on to overshadow Tatum in several scenes as well, with her comic timing. The Black Widow star’s troupe included a brilliant supporting cast. Jim Rash as the ‘difficult to deal with’ director Lance Vespertine is outstanding! He essays the role of a filmmaker who is never happy with what is on his plate and always goes over-budget and he plays it phenomenally. I would love to see a mini-series with just tales of his filming.
Woody Harrelson doesn’t disappoint as the sketchy Moe Berkus, an agent who works for the President of the United States. He has limited screen time but he stands out with Johansson and Rash in the climax.
Although the casting and the creativity is bang on, the film lacks depth. In an attempt to not get serious about the backdrop and the politics involved, director Berlanti doesn’t give enough room to show Tatum and Johansson’s love story.
Bottomline: Watch Fly Me To The Moon for its interesting concept, a breezy romance and a fun monsoon watch.
