It’s easy to fall in love with “Fly Me to The Moon”

Scarlett Johansson (left) and Channing Tatum star in “Fly Me to the Moon.” (Photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures)

The otherwise reliable romantic comedy format hasn’t fared so well in recent years. There were definitely bad feelings after the scary Jennifer Lawrence film “No Hard Feelings” premiered. “Anyone But You” should have been called “Any Movie But This One.”

It was Greg Berlanti — far better known as a writer and producer of shows like Arrow and The Flash — whose directorial debut, Fly Me to the Moon, broke the romantic comedy doldrums. His nostalgic take on people falling in love works because he and Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum are the best romantic comedy duo on screen since Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

So many filmmakers have forgotten the key ingredient for a romantic comedy to work. The audience has to want the main couple to overcome their differences and fall into each other’s arms. The chemistry between Johansson and Tatum is so electric that you’re cheering for them from the moment they first meet.

This story, which follows on from history, begins in the months leading up to the launch of Apollo 11. NASA is facing a public relations problem as interest in the mission to land on the moon continues to wane among the public and the politicians who will foot the bill.

Kelly Jones (Johansson), who wants to get a foothold in the advertising industry, is approached by the mysterious Moe Berkus (Woody Harrellson) and gets a job to rekindle interest in the show.

Her biggest obstacle is launch leader Cole Davis (Tatum), who doesn’t believe in turning the mission into a publicity stunt. Jones must find a way to win Davis over if she ever wants to complete her mission.

Some of the film deals with the kind of material that fuels the arguments of those who believe the Apollo 11 flight was faked. Berkus fears that all hopes of space exploration will be dashed if the Apollo 11 mission fails. He instructs Jones to film a fake moon landing in a hangar at the base. The video the world will see will feature the actors.

This is the less interesting part of the film. At most it is an attempt to add a little slapstick humor to the script. Much of the humor comes from Jim Rash’s over-the-top portrayal of the director hired to film the false landing. His role as the diva director seems old and tired.

Any efforts to sidestep the central romance don’t help the core. It’s as if Berlanti was afraid the connection between Johansson and Tatum wouldn’t work, and the false landing was his Plan B.

There was no need to worry. Johansson and Tatum play their roles perfectly. She is a notorious liar who must find a way to gain the trust of a man who knows that every word she says is a lie.

Tatum brings just the right amount of gruffness to his performance to ensure that his role as the man behind the mission never fades into the background, while also leaving enough room to cast dreamy glances at the woman who makes his life difficult.

Johannson has spent so much time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe being tough or playing emotionally broken characters in heavy dramas that her film world comes across as dark and heavy. She does that well. Her character in Fly Me to the Moon has a dark past, but Jones has such a lovable villainous quality that proves Johannson is good at light comedy, too.

Tatum isn’t the most gifted actor, but he’s a likable goofball, and that’s what was needed to make this romantic comedy duo work. It’s an old formula that Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn used so well, and it feels fresh with Johannson and Tatum at the center.

Those old enough to remember the Apollo 11 mission will get an extra boost. The film is a beautiful reminder of a time when the world learned what a giant leap could mean for mankind.

There are good romantic comedies on cable and streaming services, but the film world needed a film like this. Fly Me to the Moon puts romance in an entertaining orbit, accentuated with a nice touch of nostalgia.

Movie review

Fly me to the moon

Degree: B+

Pour: Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Woodie Harrelson, Ray Romano, Jim Rash.

Director: Greg Berlanti

Rated: PG-13 for strong language, smoking

Duration: 132 minutes.