FLY ME TO THE MOON (2024) – Sharp, stylish romantic comedy that is actually romantic and funny!

This is a romantic comedy done the good old-fashioned style. Hollywood A-listers Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum play star crossed lovers in a story set in the late 1960’s against the backdrop of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing mission. Johansson plays an advertising and marketing genius, Kelly, who is hired by the US government to sell the Apollo mission to the American public and world. In the process, she gets everybody excited about the mission while distracting them from the depressing news from the Vietnam War. Channing Tatum is launch director Cole Davis, who has quite the opposite nature from Kelly. Nevertheless sparks fly as soon as they meet, and we get the usual lovey-dovey moments followed some sort of betrayal which leads to their breakup only for them to makeup by the final act.

While the overall formula of the movie and how the story plays out feels all too familiar in romantic comedies, Fly Me To The Moon, manages to succeed where other more recent entries to genre failed. First and foremost, its two main characters are likeable. Scarlett and Channing have very good chemistry on screen making the viewers root for them. The dialouge is well written, with humour that never feels dumbed down. The connection with a major real life global event gives the story an added level of intrigue and it was fun to see how the story writers cleverly weave their love story into the real-life events and people involved in the Apollo 11 mission. The character of Kelly is very well written and Scarlett did a fantastic job in making her come across as someone who is super smart, resourceful and witty, while looking stunning in the process. Channing Tatum’s role is more subdued but he too made his character come across as someone believable, super cool and someone we can empathize with. The film is a lovely throwback to the kind of films were made many years ago, and something so rare today. And like the movies of the past, the film is refreshingly devoid of any vulgarities, nudity or any sex scenes that are so often infused in movies today.

The film’s impressive sets and the scenes involving the Apollo 11 also sets the film apart from other less ambitious romantic comedies. Director Greg Berlanti has a great eye for the large-scale backdrop of the NASA space centre, the rocket launching and moon landing sequences which were gloriously captured making the film visually great. The 1960’s era was well depicted through the sets, costumes, music and various TV and radio messages. The film also benefited from a first-rate score by Daniel Pemberton, who is best known for composing the Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse soundtrack.

There is nothing not to like about Fly Me To The Moon and I think it is one of this year’s sleeper hits. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it and I think you will too.