Moonshot is a sci-fi romantic comedy film directed by Chris Winterbauer. The film stars Lana Condor, Will Sprouse, Mason Gooding, and Zach Braff. Moonshot was released by the streaming platform, HBO Max. Is this film able to respond well to this unique combination of genres?
Earth in 2049 is no longer the only habitat for mankind, some of whom have now migrated to Mars. Walt (Sprouse) is a barista who has ambitions for Mars. Meanwhile, Sophie (Condor), while finishing her thesis, always misses her boyfriend, Calvin, who is on Mars. Sophie courageously went there while Walt smuggled her onto the plane using an escape pod. Sofie catches Walt and then hides Walt in his room using her boyfriend’s identity. The two get closer along the way to Mars, and something happens.
The plot is reminiscent of Passengers (2016), played by Chriss Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence. However, Passengers is much more of a serious romance drama. Meanwhile, Moonshot combines fresh genres (rom-com plus sci-fi) with a unique premise. I have been waiting for this combination for a long time, but unfortunately, the execution is far from expectations. Although it has some sweet moments, many things in the story can’t be said to be logical. The plot gives a non-serious impression throughout the film; thus, we cannot take the story seriously. One small example is Walt, who has never been to space; like an experienced astronaut, so easy to walk in space with Sophie. Huh?
With a fresh combination of genres, unfortunately, Moonshot cannot develop the story as the premise promises. The plotline is too easy to anticipate for connoisseurs of the genre. While the chemistry of the two main casts is also still not great, it looks like they are just acting without being able to melt into their characters. Both of them often overact, and the script also imposes a lot of stories. Romantic comedy is not an easy thing to make. The captivating performances of his main cast are more than half of the genre’s success. Still waiting for a better mix of sci-fi and romance comedy genres.
