Fly Me to the Moon: Film Review
I quite enjoy revisionist history films – where a fictional tale is intertwined with real events – so the concept of Fly Me to the Moon piqued my interest.
Set against the backdrop of the 1960s Space Race, the film follows successful marketing executive Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson), who is hired by Moe Berkus (Woody Harrelson) to fix NASA’s public image after an unsuccessful start to the Apollo programme. It is her job to create interest in the upcoming Apollo 11 mission, which will send Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the Moon.
She ruffles the feathers of launch director Cole Davis (Channing Tatum), a stuffy and serious man who doesn’t want her distracting staff or interfering with the work. Naturally, since this is a romance comedy-drama, they grow to like each other (and maybe even more). But they are tested when Moe makes Kelly orchestrate a fake moon landing in a studio as an insurance policy.
I would have preferred Fly Me to the Moon as a workplace comedy about two professionals butting heads because the romance element didn’t work for me. This could be down to the lack of chemistry between Johansson and Tatum or because it felt weirdly shoehorned into a movie that didn’t need it. They really should have stayed colleagues who came to understand each other, or friends at the absolute max.
Johansson, who also produced the film, is perfect for this role. It showcases her gift for comedy, her beauty and her charm. Kelly can wrap anyone around her little finger and talk anyone into doing her bidding. She is morally dubious but I couldn’t help but like her because Johansson is so damn charismatic and disarming.
However, Tatum is a different matter. I just didn’t buy him as this 1960s NASA director or a tightly wound super serious person. He was not a convincing casting! He was drafted in after Chris Evans dropped out of the role and I can’t help but wonder how different it would have been. I can see Evans as Cole and we already know he has great chemistry with his regular collaborator Johansson.
Although Johansson is great, my personal star of the show was Jim Rash as high-maintenance diva director Lance Vespertine. He is honest and outspoken and suffers no fools. Rash easily gets the best lines and most laughs (which were very much needed as this is light on the comedy).
Fly Me to the Moon looks gorgeous (the production design is incredible) and is a pleasant, easy watch. However, it is tonally confused, too long for what it is and Tatum is not right.
In cinemas from Thursday 11th July