Kelly Jones is a sharp marketing woman brought in to boost NASA's image before the big Apollo 11 moon shot. She butts heads with Cole Davis, the no-nonsense launch director running the real mission. The White House orders her to secretly prepare a fake moon landing film as a safety net in case things go wrong. Romance builds between Kelly and Cole while she assembles a team for the staged video. The story mixes laughs, lies, and the excitement of the space race.
The movie includes a few audience-visible elements that stand out. Kelly is a clever and bold woman running major plans in the 1960s NASA world. There is a gay supporting character, Lance, whose boyfriend gets mentioned and who helps with the fake landing project. Some scenes show her using ad tricks and modern ideas to sell the mission. Director Greg Berlanti has a long record of adding LGBTQ+ characters to his projects. Still, the core is a retro rom-com about two people from different worlds falling for each other during a huge historical event. Viewers would mostly notice the stars and the funny fake landing idea rather than any heavy message. Backlash treating it as pushing an agenda was rare and not widespread.
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Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for Fly Me to the Moon.
Woke representation / casting
Scarlett Johansson plays a bold female marketing expert who leads big efforts for NASA in a 1960s setting. The film includes a gay supporting character, Lance Vespertine, played by out gay actor Jim Rash, with a clear reference to his boyfriend. Other supporting roles feature actors of varied backgrounds. These choices are visible to viewers in a story based on a time when NASA teams were mostly white and male.
45%
Woke political dialogue
There are jokes and plot points about government officials ordering a fake video to protect America's image and about using ads and sponsorships to sell the space program. Supporting assistant delivers feminist, anti-Nixon, and anti-war statements.
30%
Identity-driven story themes
The main arcs follow a romance and the tension between truth and lies during the Apollo 11 mission. Plot engine revolves around empowered female protagonist's agency and moral arc in male-dominated NASA world. A gay character on the team adds a background identity detail with a boyfriend mention.
40%
Western institutional / cultural critique
The film shows a government operative pushing a secret fake landing plan out of fear for the country's image and pokes fun at marketing spin. It ends by celebrating the real moon landing as a proud success. The points stay light and tied to the 1960s events rather than modern critiques of systems or groups.
0%
Woke character or canon changes
Not present in this title.
0%
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
A small number of online comments called out feminist takes or reimagining of the era. There were no major waves of complaints in news or social media about DEI, identity politics, or propaganda. Most discussion was about whether the rom-com was funny or the plot made sense.
20%
Creator track record context
Director Greg Berlanti has a strong record of LGBTQ+ focused work across many projects. Star and producer Scarlett Johansson has a lower record and has defended creative freedom in roles. The writers and most producers have little to no such background. The gay character in the film lines up with the director's known style.
50%
Production
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