The Stream: The romance in the movie is unnecessary and the leads lack chemistry.

The Big Screen: Scarlett Johansson bring charm and wit in this breezy dramedy.

The Final Bill: A decent dramedy that gets sidetracked by an unnecessary romantic storyline.

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Greg Berlanti
Writers: Rose Gilroy; story by Keenan Flynn & Bill Kirstein
Stars: Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Woody Harrelson, Ray Romano, Jim Rash
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Rating: PG-13 for some strong language and smoking
Runtime: 2 hours 7 minutes
Production Companies: Apple Studios, These Pictures
Platform: On Apple TV+ December 6, 2024

Hey, Streamers! When it’s cold, it’s a nice time to curl up at home with a good streaming movie. You may not want to watch another Christmas or Holiday-themed movie, so here’s Fly Me to the Moon which just premiered on Apple TV+. In this movie, Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson), a savvy and tough advertising executive, has been tapped by the United States government to promote NASA and its mission to land on the Moon. Kelly becomes a thorn in the side of Cole Davis (Channing Tatum), the launch director at Kennedy Space Center, as she uses unconventional methods to boost NASA’s public image while he’s focused on the success of the mission. Sparks fly and moon-landing hijinks ensue.

Fly Me to the Moon is a nice movie – inoffensive, somewhat entertaining with a few funny moments. It will keep you engaged as you watch it, but it is not very memorable overall. Scarlett Johansson gives a charming and grounded performance. She really understands that this is light and breezy movie about the Space Race. Her smart and resourceful character helps move the story along and the audience will root for her success. The problem is that the filmmakers wanted this movie to be a romance on top of the light drama of the Apollo mission, and that’s completely unnecessary. Channing Tatum feels miscast in the role as Cole Davis. He has a stilted delivery and cool demeanor, which is strange because he’s usually a gifted comedic actor. His chemistry will Johansson feels forced and perfunctory. This movie would have been better served without the romance between Johansson and Davis wedged in for no real reason. Other than that, this is an enjoyable watch.

Ultimately, Fly Me to the Moon is a generally entertaining, decent movie. There are a few funny moments, but the romance between the two leads does not work and is unnecessary. Scarlett Johansson brings her charm and wit and makes the movie an enjoyable experience. It may be a bit forgettable, but it’s a good watch on a cold evening at home. Grab a bowl of popcorn and fly off to Apple TV+land.