Fly Me to the Moon: An Unexpected and Successful Cinematic Journey

If you’re worried about being bored at the movies this summer, rest assured! Many highly anticipated films are being released during the holidays. One such film is Fly Me to the Moon by Greg Berlanti, the producer of Red, White & Royal Blue. Known for other major projects like the Netflix series You, Riverdale, Love, Simon, and the Arrowverse, Berlanti promises a captivating cinematic experience. We had the opportunity to see the film, and here is our review.

Some believe that no man has ever walked on the Moon! An old conspiracy theory suggests that the famous director Stanley Kubrick filmed the moon landing in a large studio. The film is set in the 1960s, at a time when the United States is striving to surpass the USSR in the famous space race. Following previous NASA failures and the deaths of astronauts, it becomes crucial to restore the image of space exploration. Kelly Jones, played by Scarlett Johansson, is recruited by Moe, portrayed by Woody Harrelson, on behalf of the American government. In return, he promises to erase her somewhat questionable past. Accompanied by her assistant Ruby, Kelly meets Cale Davis (Channing Tatum), the director of the Apollo 11 mission. Although reluctant to collaborate with Kelly, Moe reminds Cale that the funds have run out. Kelly then redoubles her efforts to ensure that the rocket launch takes place.

The character of Kelly perfectly embodies the charisma associated with Hollywood stars of the era. Her confidence and dynamism remain undiminished by her flaws, which she wears proudly. She is not hesitant to use cunning, manipulation, or deceit to achieve her goals. Although she does not hide her attraction to Cale, he makes a concerted effort to resist the charming young woman. Highly professional, Cale adheres to many principles and values. The two actors make for a very interesting duo to watch evolve. Cale, who is entirely introverted and reluctant to expose his own life as well as that of NASA, contrasts sharply with Kelly, who is completely extroverted and always manages to get what she wants. These two opposites must work together, creating a dynamic interplay that drives the story forward.

It is during the second part of the film that Moe presents Kelly with a new proposal (one she doesn’t have much choice about). This mission refers to the conspiracy theory suggesting that the videos filmed on the Moon were actually shot on a set. This unexpected twist makes the film’s two-hour runtime quite smooth and engaging.

We would have liked to see the secondary characters play a larger role in the film, particularly the assistant Ruby, a hilarious character played by Anna Garcia. Ruby, a loyal soldier to Kelly, could have added more depth to the story. Similarly, among the thousands of employees at NASA, we only meet two engineers. Although one of them has his moment towards the end, it’s true that we would have liked to learn more about them and their roles.

Announced in March 2022, Fly Me to the Moon has undergone several changes. Originally, Chris Evans was set to star alongside Scarlett Johansson, and the film was titled Project Artemis, referencing the second part of the plot. Jason Bateman was initially slated to direct, but he left the project due to creative differences, making way for Greg Berlanti, who had not directed a feature film since Love, Simon in 2018. Filming began at the end of October 2022. Due to his unavailability during that period, Chris Evans relinquished his role as NASA mission director to Channing Tatum.

Despite all these changes, which could have jeopardized the project, the film was ultimately released in theaters this week. What a surprise! We had a great time watching our new favorite duo. The film deserves to blow up at the box office!

‘Fly Me to the Moon’ is currently in theaters alongside ‘Inside Out 2’ and ‘Despicable Me 4’