Fly Me to the Moon Movie Review: A forgettable yet charming film

Fireworks aren’t meant to stay up in the sky. They dazzle you and quickly fade away. Some films, like Fly Me to the Moon, are like fireworks. They never linger in your mind, they charm you only as long as they can fill your vision, and never more. True to the classification, Fly Me to the Moon, a romantic comedy-drama set against the backdrop of the Apollo 11 moon landing mission, is vibrant and full of spark and colour. Much of that spark belongs to Scarlett Johansson, who plays a sprightly marketing specialist named Kelly Jones, who is charged with the impossible task of staging a fake moon landing for the US government. On the other hand, Channing Tatum effectively plays a launch director named Cole Davis, who must overcome his guilt of being responsible for the tragedy of the Apollo 1 accident and complete a successful mission to the moon. 

Director: Greg Berlanti
Cast: Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Woody Harrelson, Jim Rash, Ray Romano

Characters dreamily looking up at the stars, the soft glow of sunsets splattered across the screen, a remote space centre filled with distinct charm and dreams, and the signature allure of 60s aesthetics; the film is replete with pleasant visuals and ephemeral charm. On the other hand, Fly Me to the Moon would have been a hollow experience if not for the affable characters. Except for the customary backstories that lay bare their vulnerabilities and flaws, we don’t probe too deeply into the psychology of the primary characters. Films such as these usually tend to be weakened by one-dimensional characters, while Cole Davis and Kelly Jones are only a cut above being one-dimensional (two-dimensional, if you will), they are still designed effectively and are therefore likeable to a large extent. The premise of two people on opposite ends of the same mission falling in love is a good enough excuse to mount a quaint little romantic drama, sprinkled with heartwarming moments and lighthearted laughs. However, you will be disappointed if you go looking for anything more than that. There are no surprises or excitement; the film mostly rides on a predictable story. 

Despite its lack of interest in perfection or novelty, Fly Me to the Moon remains likeable because, throughout its runtime, it is periodically dotted with heartwarming moments, light humour, quirky characters, and effective chemistry between the lead characters. Witty lines like “Forgive him, he’s a pilot, they have a problem with gravity,” stick to the mind while others grate our patience with how formulaic they are. Some character moments and dialogues are executed so hurriedly that they don’t seamlessly blend into the next scene. For example, there is a moment when Channing Tatum and Scarlett Johansson’s characters have an argument and immediately afterwards, all it takes is a quick chat in the rain for them to reconcile their differences, so they can move on to the next scene. While the film tries its best to hide the fact that it is the product of a colour-by-the-numbers screenplay, it is in these rushed moments that the colours leap out of the lines and take us out of the film. Fly Me to the Moon is perfectly comfortable being unmemorable and thereby extends an authenticity that connects to us. It isn’t trying to be anything but a colourful display of light and sound that dazzles you like the transient yet sparkling beauty of a firework. Maybe some things can be unmemorable and still bring you joy.