S Poddar
This misguided and humorless romantic comedy about a US government plan to fake the moon landing, just in case the real one failed, detracts from the historic Apollo 11 mission.
Would you find it amusing to watch a comedy about Bill Gates plotting to use the Covid vaccine to implant 5G chips in millions of Americans, only to discover they already have 5G on their phones? In its place, we have this uninspired romantic comedy about a hypothetical US government scheme to stage the moon landing if the actual mission didn’t succeed.
Scarlett Johansson stars as Kelly Jones, a savvy ad executive in the late 60s tasked with boosting NASA’s struggling publicity efforts. Using her marketing expertise, she aims to sway public opinion and politicians to continue funding the Apollo mission. Meanwhile, she falls for the earnest launch director Cole Davis, portrayed by Channing Tatum, who sports an odd hairstyle and heavy makeup. Unbeknownst to Davis, Kelly is coerced by CIA agent Moe Berkus (Woody Harrelson) into filming a fake moon landing in a secret studio, to be used whether the real mission succeeds or not, to ensure the right kind of dramatic footage is available.
Peter Hyams’ 1978 film “Capricorn One,” which dealt with a fictitious Mars landing, had a genuine satirical edge, blending cynicism and nihilism effectively. In contrast, this film undermines the romance and excitement of the Apollo 11 accomplishment with a misplaced and jarring sense of humor.
“Fly Me to the Moon” is set to release in Australia on July 11, and in the US and UK on July 12.
