It’s 1969, and a beleaguered US is trying to beat the Soviets to landing on the moon. It’s not just national pride at stake, it’s an ideology. Such is the setting for Fly Me To The Moon, a stylish, funny, heart warming and romantic look at the Apollo 11 mission. Starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, the film has all the ingredients for an enjoyable romp that explores the intrigue of the era, while still refusing to take itself too seriously.
Scarlett Johansson features as Kelly, a bright young star in the marketing cosmos. She’s roped in to aid NASA in piquing the public's interest and getting funds rolling, and meets Channing Tatum’s character Cole in the process. Cole works at NASA as a launch director, and it’s not long before sparks fly. And while the two seem to be opposites in many ways, the pairing, after a rocky start, is smooth sailing, aided in part by the smooth sailing of Cole when he takes Kelly for a jaunt in his Spitfire.
But while the union might initially seem to work well, as Kelly wrangles supporters for the underfunded space mission, and Cole gets down to the serious business of preparing the astronauts and engineers, it’s not long before tensions fray again. Cole finds Kelly’s marketing tactics unethical and questionable, and Kelly is frustrated by Cole’s stubborn-headedness. And when Kelly is asked to spearhead a secret project that would definitely earn Cole’s ire, it seems as though the budding romance might fizzle out as quickly as it started. Will Kelly and Cole survive? What is her mission? Will the US beat the Soviets to the punch? (Well, we know the answer to that last one). You’ll just have to watch to find out!
Fly Me To The Moon is, in summary, delightful, aesthetically pleasing, (hello, gorgeous 1960s outfits), and an interesting take on a fun yet chaotic period of time. It delves into one of the most pivotal moments of human history, yet does so in a truly enjoyable way. If you love the 1960s, all things moon landing or even the blockbuster stars the film boasts, you will love this movie.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2
Thank you to Sony Pictures Australia and Event Cinemas Innaloo for having me.
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