'Fly Me to the Moon' Review: Scarlett Johansson not enough for movie on world's most famous consipracy theory
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Apple TV+'s latest offering 'Fly Me to the Moon' contains a plot and cast capable of making enough buzz. The film builds its premise on the fake moon-landing theory around NASA's historic Apollo 11 mission.
It features Scarlett Johansson as Kelly Jones, a highly capable marketing specialist hired to market the moon ahead of the mission.
Opposite her is ever-charismatic Channing Tatum who plays NASA's launch director Cole Davis.
'Fly Me to the Moon' falls flat
In a runtime of 132 minutes, Bill Kirstein and Keenan Flynn attempt to fit in romance, comedy, historical events, and conspiracy all at once.
Just when we begin to enjoy the conspiracy, the plot throws romance in our faces, and when we're immersed in the romance, silly comedy or historical references catch us off guard.
When the trailer was released, we were seated to see how director Greg Berlanti would explore the wild conspiracy theory about NASA's moon landing. Unfortunately, he fails to make this film convincing or entertaining.
We are disappointed with the absurd scenes like Kelly and two NASA engineers stealing a TV on the day of launch or a black cat interrupting the telecast of moon-landing in a "controlled" setting.
The film tries to juggle too many themes but fails to explore any of them fully. Even if we overlook the fake moon landing plot and focus solely on the romance, we are still left frustrated.
Even Scarlett Johansson couldn't save the chaotic mix
Johansson brings in her usual charm and style. She stuns in the '60s outfits and plays her part with conviction. Channing Tatum plays Cole Davis, the launch director with a guilt-ridden past.
Kelly and Cole's meeting in the bar sets the stage for a fierce romance at the beginning of the film. Yet, the plot goes off the rails too quickly, leaving us hanging for the very thing that we were craving.
Eventually, Cole and Kelly's relationship feels forced and lacks real chemistry as the film constantly tries to dive into too many themes at all times.
The characters lack enough depth despite the attempt to delve into their traumatic pasts.
The film is neither an epic rom-com nor a well-made historical piece. It just hangs somewhere in between, failing to leave a mark despite a promising premise and star-studded cast.
'Fly Me to the Moon' arrives in theatres on July 12, 2024, followed by a digital premiere on Apple TV+ by the end of this year.
