Overstuffed with corny formulas, Fly Me to the Moon's hollowness is eventually exposed. Its contrived romance, inaccurate history, flat characters, and melodrama are told through blunt exposition. Despite snappy quips, the dialogue is often unnatural. It sanitizes social issues, instead focusing on a repetitive conflict and a shoehorned third act. Consequently, the story is one-note, mild, and quietly insincere. Its only emotional impact comes from Johansson, who pulls decent charm and layers out of this generic material. Everyone else's chemistry, range, and personality are underwhelming. Overall, Fly Me to the Moon is bogged down by cliches and doesn't build relatability.
Besides its awkward tones, Fly Me to the Moon is technically competent. Although mostly basic, the imagery offers brief lighting, focus, and movement. The editing provides flashy montages, weightless momentum, and bloated structure. There are punches of emphasis and rocket engines peppered among the plain soundscape. Its jazzy scoring and appropriate needle drops feel saccharine at times. A distinct era and specific locations are established by the production design. Despite abundant fame, the cast is frequently underutilized and misplaced (especially Tatum). The glossy CGI is, unfortunately, distracting. Thus, Fly Me to the Moon is a tolerable yet forgettable puff piece.
Writing: 4/10
Direction: 4/10
Cinematography: 5/10
Acting: 6/10
Editing: 5/10
Sound: 6/10
Score/Soundtrack: 7/10
Production Design: 8/10
Casting: 8/10
Effects: 4/10
Overall Score: 5.7/10
Comments