Space travel has traditionally intrigued people, especially traveling to the moon. Reflecting back to NASA’s landing on the moon in 1969, the live video coverage was forever under scrutiny—were we really the first country to have astronauts walk or bounce on the moon? Or was it all staged in a backlot movie set? “Fly Me to the Moon” looks at this history-making time by creating a fun mix of people and questions to ponder. By far, the best elements of the entertaining film are its two seasoned stars, Scarlet Johansson (Kelly), a whip-smart advertising executive who can spin circumstances to accomplish her goals, and Channing Tatum (Cole), a former Air Force pilot, the launch director for NASA.
While there are numerous sources for the verified story of the moon landing, ‘Fly Me to the Moon’ offers a unique twist. The film stays true to most of the historical facts, but then takes a delightful detour with a comedic and romantic storyline. Johansson’s character, Kelly, is hired by Moe Berkus (Woody Harrelson), who works for President Richard Nixon. As the end of the 60s approaches, the promise made by John F. Kennedy that a man would walk on the moon is looming. This was a significant milestone for most politicians at the time, a crucial accomplishment in the Cold War battle for the supremacy of capitalism and democracy.
For me, a film critic, it was a blast to watch the eccentric director of the ‘fake moon landing film’, Jim Rash, whom I’ve interviewed in the past in his hysterical director role. Of course, Johansson anchors him in her fantastically written role as the ‘budget watcher’ who has to rein Rash in at times. Their scenes are some of my favorites, and I laughed out loud with the audience.
The writer of the sharp script is Rose Gilroy; her father is famed writer Dan Gilroy, who wrote “Real Steel,” “Kong: Skull Island,” and “Nightcrawler,” and her mother is Rene Russo. She creates a romance between Tatum and Johansson that is sweet to view. “Fly Me to the Moon” has the feel and look of an old-fashioned love story. An engaging supporting cast anchors the excellent leads of Tatum and Johannsson. The script boasts one of the best women-centered roles in film I’ve seen in a long time.
Sarah Knight Adamson© July 16, 2024