Fly Me to the Moon 2024

As the 1960s Space Race reached its fever pitch, following the Soviet Union’s successful dispatch of a human astronaut into space, the United States was in hot pursuit of lunar domination. The catastrophic Apollo 1 mission, which resulted in the tragic loss of three brave crew members, served as a stark reminder of the risks and stakes involved in this high-stakes game of technological one-upmanship.

Against this backdrop of intense competition and tragedy, our story introduces Cole Davis (Channing Tatum), a seasoned NASA professional tasked with overseeing the monumental Apollo 11 launch. Meanwhile, Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson) is a cunning marketing specialist who has built a reputation for her unorthodox approach to getting results. Donning a convincing pregnancy disguise, she waltzes into a high-stakes meeting with a major car manufacturer, armed with a persuasive pitch that aims to expand their customer base beyond the traditional male demographic.

Kelly’s trusty sidekick and assistant, Ruby Martin (Anna Garcia), is ever-present as they navigate the treacherous landscape of corporate deal-making. As they work alongside demanding commercial director Lance Vespertine (Jim Rash), Kelly’s reputation for getting things done precedes her. However, her carefully constructed facade begins to unravel when she crosses paths with Moe Berkus (Woody Harrelson), a charismatic figure claiming to represent President Nixon himself.

Moe’s offer to Kelly is nothing short of tantalizing: he proposes leveraging her skills to revamp NASA’s public image ahead of the Apollo 11 launch, effectively transforming her from a marketing maverick into an integral part of the space agency’s PR machine. With Ruby in tow, Kelly sets up shop in Washington D.C., where she and Cole Davis (Channing Tatum) engage in a series of awkward yet tantalizing encounters that leave both parties feeling uneasy about their newfound professional relationship.

As Kelly settles into her new role at NASA, she and Ruby are treated to a tour of their humble abode – a far cry from the sleek, modern offices they’re used to. Meanwhile, Cole is left reeling after discovering Kelly’s true identity, forcing him to confront his own biases and assumptions about this enigmatic newcomer. The tension between these two is palpable as Kelly and Ruby set out to make their mark on NASA, with Ruby herself serving as a constant reminder of the duo’s unconventional approach.

The sparks begin to fly when Cole and Deputy Launch Director Henry Smalls (Ray Romano) are left scratching their heads over Kelly’s unorthodox methods, including her decision to hire an actor to play Smalls in a staged news broadcast. As Cole confronts Kelly about this perceived slight, she reminds him that he himself warned her that his team didn’t do interviews – a clever reminder of the power dynamics at play within the NASA hierarchy.

In the end, it’s Moe’s words of wisdom that ultimately seal Kelly’s fate: “She’s getting results,” he cautions Cole and Smalls, effectively putting them on notice that they must learn to work with this unpredictable yet results-driven force. As Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson) and Cole Davis (Channing Tatum) navigate the treacherous landscape of NASA bureaucracy, one thing becomes clear: in a world where reputations are made or broken with every move, these two will stop at nothing to get what they want.

As Kelly’s creative juices flow, she crafts innovative advertisements linking the forthcoming moon landing to prominent brands like Tang and Fruit of the Loom, while Cole and his team diligently prepare for the historic event. Notwithstanding their tireless efforts, the media seems fixated on the unfolding drama of the Vietnam War. It is against this backdrop that Kelly and Cole form an unlikely bond on the bustling boardwalk, sharing stories and laughter as they stroll along the oceanfront. However, when Kelly proposes bringing a camera aboard to capture a poignant image of Earth from the moon’s surface, Cole is adamant in his refusal.

Later, as Kelly opens up to Smalls about Cole’s troubled past, she learns that he was once a pilot who had to abandon his dreams due to a medical condition discovered during a routine examination. Smalls reveals that Cole now finds solace in tending a garden, where he pays tribute to the victims of the Apollo 1 launch tragedy. This poignant revelation only serves to further humanize Cole in Kelly’s eyes.

Meanwhile, Senator Hopp (Gene Jones) visits the facility, and despite initial reservations, is won over by Kelly’s charms as she feigns being inspired by his leadership years ago. This crucial endorsement sets the stage for a series of diplomatic maneuvers aimed at securing votes from other influential officials. Cole and Kelly successfully win over Senator Cook (Colin Jost), paving the way for their next target: Senator Hedges (Victor Garber).

In exchange for Hedges’ support, Cole agrees to participate in an interview with a select group of individuals who are owed favors by the senator. With the votes secured, the team celebrates this major victory, while Cole takes Kelly on a nostalgic flight through his past, sharing stories of his days as a pilot.

As Kelly reflects on her own life experiences, she shares with Cole how she developed her remarkable ability to charm and deceive others during her childhood, when she accompanied her mother on a door-to-door sales journey across the country. This candid conversation provides a glimpse into Kelly’s complex personality, further solidifying her bond with Cole.

In her motel room, Kelly is confronted by Moe, who presents her with “Project Artemis,” a plan to create a fake moon landing as a contingency in case the Apollo mission goes awry. The potential consequences of being discovered are dire – imprisonment or even execution for treason for Kelly and anyone involved. Despite her reservations, she reluctantly agrees to the proposal, setting in motion a chain of events that will test her resolve and ingenuity.

As Kelly navigates the complexities of recruiting allies for their clandestine mission, she turns to Ruby and Lance for assistance. However, Lance’s diva-like tendencies quickly emerge, prompting Kelly to go to great lengths to keep their true intentions hidden from prying eyes at NASA. Meanwhile, Kelly joins forces with Cole as he sits down with Chuck Meadows (Peter Jacobson) for a revealing interview. Initially, the conversation flows smoothly, but things take a dramatic turn when Chuck broaches the subject of the Apollo 1 tragedy, casting blame on Cole’s shoulders for allegedly failing to review critical reports before the shuttle launched. Kelly later rebukes Cole for his outburst, but he stands by his defense, insisting that he would never utter a falsehood about those who lost their lives in the tragedy.

Following this tense exchange, Cole extends an invitation to Kelly to accompany him on a trip to Louisiana, where they will meet with Senator Vanning (Joe Chrest) and his wife Jolene (Stephanie Kurtzuba) for dinner. As it turns out, Vanning is initially lukewarm towards the space program, but Cole’s impassioned appeal to their shared Christian values ultimately wins him over. With their mission accomplished, Cole and Kelly return home, where they share a romantic moment that marks a significant turning point in their relationship.

As the team celebrates their success, however, Kelly and Ruby begin to feel the weight of their secret burden. Kelly’s guilt eventually boils over when she encounters Moe at the office, where she attempts to extricate herself from the project altogether. Moe, ever the shrewd operator, reminds her that if she were to betray the trust of Project Artemis, he would be forced to reveal her true nature. Furthermore, even in the event of a flawless Apollo launch, they still intend to broadcast their meticulously crafted film. Kelly’s thoughts are thus consumed by uncertainty until she stumbles upon a poignant sketchbook created by Ruby, filled with detailed portraits of the individuals they’ve worked alongside – including a touching depiction of Kelly and Cole together.

As the countdown to the fake moon landing reaches its climax, Kelly takes an unexpected turn by revealing the truth to Cole - a shocking revelation that her identity isn’t even Kelly Jones, but rather a carefully crafted alias. Cole’s natural reaction is a mix of disappointment and outrage, yet he agrees to help Kelly rectify the situation to prevent the world from witnessing the fake landing unfold. With a stern warning that their partnership will come to an end once the deed is done, Cole joins forces with Kelly in a daring plan to outsmart Moe.

The stakes are high as Kelly, aided by her younger colleagues, orchestrates a clever heist to pilfer a crucial piece of equipment - a television set. Meanwhile, on the soundstage for the fake landing, the crew prepares for a live broadcast, while back on Earth, Apollo 11 blasts off into space with a successful launch. The team at NASA breathes a collective sigh of relief as they overcome their technical issues and get ready to put on the show of the century.

In a moment that echoes through history, the astronauts successfully touch down on the moon’s surface - but not without some unexpected company. A stray black cat, which had been roaming the NASA grounds, darts onto the fake set just as Moe is keeping watch. His eyes widen in alarm as he realizes that this impromptu guest is nowhere to be seen on the live broadcast, sparking a chain of events that will forever change the course of his life. Cole, now privy to the truth, lets out an exuberant cheer to himself as the gravity of the situation sets in.

As the dust settles on their daring heist, Kelly and her cohorts bask in the glow of their triumph, while Moe sincerely thanks Winnie (Kelly’s true identity) for saving his reputation. Later, Apollo 11 makes a safe return to Earth, marking a major milestone in the space program.

In the aftermath of their high-stakes adventure, Cole and Winnie reconcile and rekindle their romance with a tender kiss, as if the world had been put back into orbit once more.