Fly Me to the Moon

Front Row at the Movies by Shirrel Rhoades

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Suppose you took two older movies – say, “Capricorn One,” a fanciful film suggesting that the moon landing was faked, and “Wag the Dog,” a film about using Hollywood to fake a war – and turned them into a rom-com starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum?

If so, you’d have “Fly Me to the Moon,” now playing in theaters.

Set during the first half of 1969, we meet rugged Channing Tatum (“Magic Mike,” “21 Jump Street”) as a former astronaut, and Scarlett Johansson (“Black Widow,” “Her”) as a wily publicity wag who is determined to make America’s moon landing a success, whether it happens that way or not.

Columbia Pictures describes it as “a sharp, stylish romantic comedy set against the high-stakes backdrop of NASA’s historic Apollo 11 moon landing.”

As some of you will remember, the ‘60s were fueled by Cold War paranoia, and the idea that America just had to beat the Russians in the space race.

The plot: Constantly butting heads with each other about the moon landing, PR maven Kelly Jones (Johansson) and NASA launch director Cole Davis (Tatum) provide a comic will-they-or-won’t-they challenge. But this being a rom-com, you already know the answer.

The cast is great: Scarjo is fresh and bubbly as a conning PR expert. Tatum is manly and handsome as NASA’s launch director. Woody Harrelson is chilling and creepy as a Man in Black presidential advisor. Ray Romano handles a minor character with “Everybody Love Raymond” aplomb. Jim Rash is hilarious as a flamboyant TV commercial director hired to film a fake moon landing. Scarlett’s hubby Colin Jost gets a cameo. And you’ll encounter a mischievous black kitty cat that you’ll love!

Directed by Greg Brelanti (TV’s “Arrow,” “Dawson’s Creek”), “Fly Me to the Moon” is a great ‘60s period piece. It offers up all the memorable cars and did-we-do-that props and nostalgic songs. The archival news footage adds an extra layer of déjà vu.

The film’s success hinges on the chemistry between Johansson and Tatum. Fortunately, it works. Their sparring is mindful of classic romantic comedies of days gone by – say, old Tracy-Hepburn movies or Rock Hudson and Doris Day.

As one viewer said, “The chemistry between them feels authentic, but the conflict between them seems contrived.”

Another adds, “This film had me locked in from beginning to end. Bravo to the cast and crew.”

Still another says, “At times the writing is quite funny and the whole thing offers lunar conspiracy theorist (and the disbelieving Soviets) the perfect opportunity for the mother of wet dreams.”

And another moviegoer summed it up: “Eye candy for the simple folk.” True, but keep in mind, “Fly Me to the Moon” was intended to be nothing more than a clever throw-away rom-com.

The movie was supposed to go straight to streaming video, but it tested so positively that it was switched to a theatrical release. Streaming video will come later.

Email Shirrel: srhoades@aol.com