Although I knew that, as soon as I saw the trailer for Fly Me to the Moon, I had to see this movie, I was also a bit unsure what to expect.
I was interested in seeing Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum acting opposite each other in a romantic comedy (and I always love seeing Woody Harrelson, wherever he decides to pop up). The story is set during the 1960s space race, which is one of my favorite historical settings. I also recently watched (and loved) the Apple TV+ alternate history/astronaut drama For All Mankind, and Fly Me to the Moon seemed like the perfect companion piece.
While the main hook for this movie had me intrigued, truth be told, it also made me a little nervous. Tatum plays Cole Davis, a launch director for NASA’s Apollo 11 launch, and Johansson plays Kelly Jones, a marketing and advertising expert tasked with boosting NASA’s public image. Sparks fly, but Davis and Jones also clash as Jones is assigned to prepare a staged moon landing to televise to the public in case the real Apollo 11 mission goes wrong.
Although Fly Me to the Moon is clearly a fictionalized retelling of the Apollo 11 events, I was concerned how the fake moon landing plot would be portrayed. The conspiracy that the Apollo moon landing was faked unfortunately still endures, and I hoped that this film would not add any fuel to that fire or treat the moon landing as a joke.
To my relief, even though this film is fictionalized and has comedic elements, it does depict astronauts landing on the moon, and this moment is treated with respect and awe. No matter how many times I’ve watched historical footage or cinematic retellings, watching astronauts step foot on another world for the very first time always fills me with wonder.
I really, really liked this movie, and I thought the film makers did a great job telling an entertaining, romantic story while also highlighting real historical events (and tragedies). It has some surprisingly moving and emotional moments, and it celebrates how despite all the violence and cynicism to be found in our world, we can still transcend that and reach for the stars.
Also, this is a small detail, but there is a black cat who pops up throughout this film and plays a fun role in the finale. I don’t want to spoil what happens, but it was delightful to see another cat in a starring movie role (with this and A Quiet Place: Day One, 2024 is turning out to be an excellent year for cats at the cinema).
I heard that Fly Me to the Moon isn’t quite receiving rave reviews from critics, but I personally found it charming and lovely. Maybe it’s not a film for everyone, but it was the perfect film for me.
