Likable lead characters and good old-fashioned star power can often carry a movie a long way. Such is the case with “Fly Me to the Moon”, a fun and undeniably charming new film starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum. It could best be described it as a romantic comedy and a historical reimagining mixed together into a breezy and accessible summer feature. Even better, it turns out to be one of the season’s bigger surprises.

Directed by Greg Berlanti and written for the screen by Rose Gilroy, “Fly Me to the Moon” turns back the clock to deliver the kind of well-made feel-good entertainment that we don’t get much of these days. It’s ready-made to be seen on the big screen and offers audiences a welcomed break from the usual summer blockbuster diet of sequels, prequels, reboots, and remakes.

The bulk of the story takes place in 1969 during the height of America’s space race with the Soviet Union. With the horrors of the Vietnam War dominating the headlines, the country’s interest in the space program was waning. So the government needed a new strategy if they were ever going to realize Kennedy’s ambition of reaching the moon. The bulk of the pressure fell on the underfunded and understaffed NASA who had endured a number of setbacks, some of them tragic.

With only seven months left to prepare for the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, NASA’s image was in need of a makeover. Not only did they need to win back the public, but they needed to win over key Senators who were leaning towards cutting funding to their program. Enter Kelly Jones (a luminous Johansson), a tenacious marketing specialist from Manhattan with a rather eventful history.

One evening Kelly is approached by Moe Berkus (Woody Harrelson), a mysterious suit who works for the White House. He tells her that he wants to hire her, and if she agrees he can make certain troubling blemishes from her past disappear. The job is to sell the country on NASA’s space program and more specifically its upcoming moon mission. Without many options, Kelly agrees and immediately heads off to John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Once there, Kelly kicks into marketing mode much to the chagrin of the Apollo 11 Launch Director, Cole Davis (Tatum). He’s a ‘strictly business’ kind of guy who quickly grows annoyed by Kelly’s slick and savvy salesmanship despite his obvious attraction to her. Before long she has major advertisers lining up to partner with NASA including Tang, Fruit of the Loom, Peter Pan, and Omega watches. And no matter how hard Cole tries to push back, Kelly is always one step ahead of him (and having the support of the President doesn’t hurt).

Despite being workplace adversaries, a romantic spark ignites between Kelly and Cole. And I emphasize “spark” because this isn’t what you would call a romantic movie. There is a hint of sexual tension between the characters and Johansson and Tatum have good chemistry. But it’s a small part of a bigger story. And that’s a big reason “Fly Me to the Moon” works as well as it does. Sure it’s light and frothy in spots, but it’s a movie that’s not easy to pigeonhole.

Berlanti and Gilroy try to add some emotional depth which for the most part works. For Kelly, it’s the weight of the missteps she’s made since losing her mother. For Cole, its the haunting memory of the Apollo 1 tragedy which happened under his watch. Gilroy’s script doesn’t really see these subplots through, but they do help open up and define these characters. As for Harrelson, he doesn’t have a big role but he livens up every scene he’s in which has become his MO in recent years. He’s a hoot.

If you’ve seen the trailer you know the movie also includes the filming of a fake moon landing. Interestingly this doesn’t unfold until the final act and it’s where the movie is at its most far-fetched. But surprisingly even it has more layers than you might think. It leads to a semi-satisfying ending to what is mostly a well-made, well-acted, and well-paced throwback movie – the kind I admittedly miss. Its blend of humor with romance and history with fiction makes for a lighthearted crowd-pleasing joyride that anyone can get onboard with. “Fly Me to the Moon” is in theaters now.

VERDICT – 4 STARS