Fly Me to the Moon - Budget of $100 million - 2 hours and 12 minutes
NASA Launch Director Cole Davis averts disaster after finding a liquid nitrogen leak. He gives his scientist a new protocol and grumbles to his deputy, Henry, about their funding. America cheered when President John F. Kennedy declared his desire to go to the moon. However, the war, tragedy, and leadership change have swayed public and government opinion. If America wants to win the Space Race, NASA needs funding.
Marketing Specialist Kelly Jones and her assistant, Ruby, regroup after winning the Ford account with a great story and fake baby bump. As they create a strategy for the next meeting, a commercial director, Lance, enters with a list of demands. She calms Lance before relaxing at a bar. A man, Moe, sits beside her and applauds her for landing the campaign but tells her she lost it. Earlier, he alerted the Ford executives that she wasn't pregnant. Moe has another job for Kelly because she is the best in the business. He asks Kelly to sell the moon to the American people. If they get support, the government will increase their funding. She wants to say no, but Moe reveals he knows the truth about her past. He can make her history disappear. So she obliges, but only if Ruby can come.
Kelly and Cole meet for the first time at a local diner. She believes he's flirting, but he saves her notes. Kelly offers to drink with Cole, but he runs before she sidetracks him. Kelly tours the NASA site in the morning and sees Cole with his scientists. She jokes about stalking Cole but quickly informs Cole of Moe's plan. Cole leaves with a huff because he and his staff don't have time for interviews or antics. Kelly takes control and hires an actor to play Henry. After seeing the interview with fake Henry, Cole runs to Kelly's office and demands an explanation. She lined up deals with Omega, Crest, Tang, and Fruit of the Loom to sell the moon (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). If he doesn't participate, she will hire people to do it. Cole calls Moe to fire Kelly, but Moe refuses because her tactics work.
Kelly and Cole spend time together, and she tells him about her idea. She wants to broadcast the landing by mounting a camera on Apollo 11. Cole says no, but Moe loves the idea. Moe delivers a top-secret camera to Cole and orders Cole to place it on the rocket. Later, Moe meets Kelly in her motel room. Moe is unsure if the camera will work in space. So Moe wants Kelly to film a secret moon landing without Cole's knowledge. If Kelly doesn't, Moe will expose her. He calls it Project Artemis, named after Apollo's twin. Can Kelly sell the fake landing to Cole and the world?
This movie leans into the conspiracy while being delightful. Cole is an honest man with a heavy heart. He visits Launch Complex 34 daily with flowers and agonizes over his mistakes. One miscalculation or lie could jeopardize the mission, space program, and lives. Kelly is a woman with a plan. She will lie, cheat, and steal to win because it's all she knows. Marketing is another hustle for her, and Kelly thrives. She believes everyone is lying, so she has to be the best. They grow and learn while working together. And the costumes, hair, and makeup flow perfectly with the 1969 setting. Viewers must remember this isn't a documentary, although the editors use archival footage to set the tone. The dialog is charming, quick, and funny. Cole and Kelly have a playful yet combative repertoire that makes the audience pay attention. You can easily label Kelly the villain until you realize she is a puppet on a string. The film uses the landing as a nail-biting moment but not in the historical sense. It brings this movie to the perfect conclusion that will satisfy believers and skeptics.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
Well, Moe. What's bigger than Ford? - Kelly
New protocol is the broom. We need a new broom - Cole
This order comes from the tippy-top - Moe
Are we fired? - Henry
Leave them up there. Let them think about what they've done - Lance
My name is Ruby - Ruby
The truth is still the truth, even if no one believes it. And a lie is still a lie even if everyone believes it - Winnie
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