FLY ME TO THE MOON

US, 2024, 132 minutes, Colour.

Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Woody Harrelson, Ray Romano, Jim Rash, Anna Garcia, Victor Garber, Donald Elise Watkins, Noah Robbins..

Directed by Greg Berlanti.

On the one hand, this is an old-style romantic comedy, memories of the 1930s and what was called screwball comedy. On the other hand, the setting is 1969, NASA, preparations for the moon landing, its achievement. And they come together entertainingly here.

For those of those who remember 1969, it is a welcome reminder of the atmosphere of the time, the heightened excitement as July neared, the actual landing, “one small step…”, The sense of achievement, something of a balance to the turmoil of the Vietnam war. Audiences for whom this is something of remote history, it is an opportunity to learn something of the atmosphere of the times.

In the 21^st-century, we live in an age of conspiracy theories, many of them outlandish. However, even back then , there were conspiracy theories that the moon landing did not happen, that everything was manufactured on the studio lot – and the film later re-creating this speculation, Capricorn One.

The screenplay here amusingly incorporates the conspiracy theory of the fabrication of the moon landing along with the real thing.

Scarlet Johansson is definitely the star of this romantic comedy, Kelly Jones, one of her most forceful performances, something of a con artist, skilful in promotion and advertising (which we see in the opening sequences and are somewhat taken aback), then recruited by a mysterious secret agent who claims he has a line directly to President Nixon, and played with smilingly smug complacency by Woody Harrelson. Her mission is to make the moon landing and its preparations much better known to the American public.

What follows is an extraordinary look at American brashness, self-confidence, promotion of any product by any means possible – and here, on radio, television, imprint, rallies, breakfast cereals, omega watches, soft drinks are all incorporated into the promotion as well as, more seriously, some extraordinary lobbying of senators who are inclined to cut off funds for NASA.

Kelly is able to rise to every occasion, walking over most opposition, changing her accent at a moments notice, flirtatious one minute and religiously devout the next!

The other part of the romance is Channing Tatum, rather more serious, a touch sombre, a former Korean pilot, the launcher chief for the Moon project, very conscientious about his work – though the screenplay is a bit satirical about him and his style. When, by chance, at a diner, he sees Kelly, he is infatuated – but soon disillusioned when he discovers her mission, how she operates, the manipulation of truth and lies. But, he does get caught up in the melodrama, often unwillingly.

While the film is very strong in its presentation of the NASA work, the visuals of the plant, the control room…, It entertains the audience with the whole setting up of the fake landing, the studio, moon rocks and dust, space vehicles and gear, all rehearsals about space walking… And extraordinarily prissy director.

A wandering NASA black cat is key to the events – especially for the fake landing.

So, on the one hand, romance and comedy. On the other, memories of when America was greater than it is now…

1. The title, the song? Romantic comedy? Screwball comedy? Preparations, achievement of the moon landing, 1969?
2. A piece of Americana, the advertising and promotion world, science and technology work and space, politics, agents, cover?
3. Cape Canaveral, 1969, the reconstruction, the tallest single story building, interiors, the plant, the layout, the control room at the desks, the comparison with the ordinary, motels, diners, the wharf, and the set for the reconstruction for the moon landing?
4. The musical score, echoes of the 1960s, the range of popular songs of the period?
5. The introduction to Kelly, the pitch about the cars, pregnant, challenging the executives, naming their cars, revealed not to be pregnant, to research the information? Their reaction on discovering the truth? Ruby as her assistant?
6. The buildup of Kelly’s character, her revelations about her past with her mother, then the mother and the shooting, telling her daughter to run, change of names, experience with scams, moving into various industries, finding a home in advertising? Her personality, forcefulness? Her being recruited by Moe, his hold over her, explanations?
7. The introduction to Cole Davis, the Korean War background, his work with NASA, launch control, his responsibilities in the failed attempt on the deaths of the astronauts, preying on him, the garden at the monument? Best pilot, heart condition, rejected for space? Project with Henry Smalls, working with him? The introduction, the escaped gas, using the broom, everyone observing, the explosion? His deadpan style? He is visit to the diner, looking at Kelly, her pages on fire and dousing them, his declaration about her?
8. Kelly and the job, promotion of the Moon journey, for American consciousness? The world of advertising and promotion, American push and know how? Her charts, the drinks, the watches, cereals…? The television contacts, her barging through the plant, taking Walter’s entry card, the challenge by Cole?
9. Moe, his ambitions, secret agent, ear of the president, persuading Cole to do the television interview? His hold over Kelly? The plan for the alternate moon landing? Kelly and the previous contact with Lance, his cruising manner, tantrums, perfectionism, ambitions, job, secrecy, expectations?
10. The months of 1969, the work in preparation for the liftoff, Cole and his responsibilities, relationships with people, decisions? Henry Smalls, personality, collaboration, smoking, talking with Kelly, the need for verisimilitude for the fake moon landing, the tactics, getting Henry to show everything, promising the four work to the book?
11. The relationship between Cole and Kelly, his wariness, her brashness, sharing experiences? Ruby and the young technician, his awkwardness? The dances? The two young men and their enthusiasm, the staff in the 20s, the order in their 30s?
12. Solving problems, the Congress votes, the senators, the techniques that Kelly used to persuade them, the vain senator and photo opportunities, visit to Louisiana and the religious people, quoting the Scriptures? Kelly and her ability to adapt, lies and impersonations?
13. Kelly apprehensive about flying, the flight, the success of the mission, the relationship?
14. Kelly persuading Cole to do the television interview, his being unwilling, her preparing the questions, the interview, the intrusion by the interviewer, his angry reaction?
15. Moe the issue of the cameras, disabling the shuttle, getting the sound feed, but showing the fake landing? The preparations, the set, the camera, sand desert rocks? The actors and their impersonations?: His reaction to the actors? The rehearsals, the comic touches and failures?
16. Kelly, disillusioned, the confrontation with Moe, her decision to leave, the airport, his talking with her, her change of heart, the return, the explanation to Cole, the issue of fixing the camera on the shuttle, the two young men, her driving, smashing the window, the television set, the police escort, the last-minute change? Tensions?
17. Walter Cronkite, the millions watching on television, the crowds at Cape Canaveral? The liftoff, the flight?
18. The landing, the real, the fake performance, the sound, the “one small step…”? Checking what was real, the blurry nature, Moe wondering whether this was fake? The ultimate success? Moe and his change of heart, pride?
19. The success of the mission? Kelly and the revelation of the truth about herself? Ruby and the young technician? The future?