Moonshot

2022 - 4 - 1

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Roger Ebert"

Moonshot movie review & film summary (2022) | Roger Ebert (Roger Ebert)

Space is rife territory for an original romantic comedy, especially one about long distance relationships. “Moonshot,” which places young adults on a slow ...

“Moonshot” is the kind of movie that’s frustrating because of what makes it endearing—there’s so much that makes you wish it were more original. Desperate to be with Ginny, he rides up in an escape pod, and then when it’s time for the voyage to Mars from a station, he plans on hiding in the air ducts. And while Condor is going to be a megastar—the “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” movies proved that—you just don’t see that here. Walt and Sophie become an unlikely pair, mostly in that Walt’s fast-talking ways and clinginess somehow convince Sophie to sneak him into the ship she’s boarding, after she finally decides to buy a “civilian” ride for nearly a million dollars. “Moonshot,” which places young adults on a slow adventure to Mars that’s basically a road trip through the final frontier, doesn’t take advantage of this enough. Condor, meanwhile, is endearing and earnest with her character’s dedication to goals, not realizing they are her boyfriend’s. But the script is limited on how to make her feel more alive; Sophie has a funny, quirky habit of dancing when under stress, but we don’t get more of that kind of color to her character.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Character Media"

Review: 'Moonshot' Takes Star-crossed Lovers Trope to the Actual ... (Character Media)

Led by Lana Condor and Cole Sprouse, “Moonshot” drops on HBO Max March 31.

One can’t help but wish to go back to the more grounded tone of the galaxy hologram scene in the middle of the film. In one beautifully shot scene, Walt and Sophie sit cross-legged in a dimly lit room, poring over a holographic galaxy map with bursts of white, red and blue light overlaying their faces. Like maybe every rom-com to come before, the film focuses on taking ownership of one’s path in life, and accepting that dreams can change over time. While Condor fits comfortably into every scene, Sprouse unquestionably has more of a talent for the lighthearted moments (everyone say, “Thank you, ‘Suite Life of Zack and Cody’”). He can come off as not fully convinced during romantic overtures, but overall gets the job done. Streaming today, March 31, “Moonshot” tells the story of two college peers: free-wheeling Walt (Cole Sprouse) and down-to-earth (pun intended) Sophie (Lana Condor) as they navigate literal space and their respective futures. However, Sprouse and Condor’s comedic chemistry is the real standout of the film—the two banter and play off each other so effortlessly that “Moonshot” starts to feel more like a buddy comedy.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "IGN"

Moonshot Review - IGN (IGN)

Starring Riverdale/Zack & Cody's Cole Sprouse and Deadly Class' Lana Condor, Moonshot, which is mostly set aboard a transport spaceship to Mars (no, not the ...

The entire middle part of the story is just the two of them trying to not get in trouble after Walt sneaks aboard the Mars craft. Sophie is a genius in her field and the two mix like oil and water at first, yet both make huge impulsive decisions to head to Mars for love. Sprouse's Walt is an unfocused fly-by-the-seat-of-his pants guy while Condor's Sophie is the anxious plan-oriented type, and while it's not the best look to have an extraordinary woman fall for a supremely average dude (Walt's mediocrity is a humorous running joke), the movie still has the good sense to have him be the one to want to follow and support her.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The New York Times"

'Moonshot' Review: Found in Space (The New York Times)

Cole Sprouse and Lana Condor have a meet-cute en route to Mars in the young adult rom-com “Moonshot,” streaming on HBO Max.

That’s OK. It’s a sturdy, versatile trope, no less appealing for being predictable, and with the right balance of flirty antagonism and latent sexual tension, the payoff is certainly satisfying. Walt and Sophie have to spend it sharing quarters, keeping up amorous appearances, and (of course) exchanging the kind of witty banter and increasingly lustful glances that in a rom-com are the foundation of any budding relationship. When Walt stows away on Sophie’s space shuttle, he assumes the identity of her longtime boyfriend Calvin (Mason Gooding), and manages to embroil her in the deception.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Collider.com"

How to Watch 'Moonshot': Is the Space Rom-Com Streaming or in ... (Collider.com)

Here's how you will be able to watch the new sci-fi romcom starring Lana Condor and Cole Sprouse.

Landa Condor stars in Moonshot as Sophie, a young college student who is traveling to Mars to reunite with her boyfriend. One of those films is the still in development Young Adult romantic adventure film The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue. HBO Max also has several other films on the horizon that will appeal to the Gen-Z audience including a remake to the 90s comedy franchise House Party. The trailer for the film shows stars Lana Condor and Cole Sprouse as their characters, Sophie and Walt, as they embark on a journey through space. As they make their way across the cosmos, Sophie and Walt grow closer, and a potential romance appears to bloom. The film stars To All The Boys I've Loved Before breakout star Lana Condor and Riverdale alum Cole Sprouse as Sophie and Walt, two young people coming of age in a world where Mars has been colonized, and space travel has become part of our everyday lives. HBO Max and New Line's new sci-fi romantic comedy Moonshot is a futuristic space adventure about finding yourself and discovering what you really want out of life.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "TheWrap"

Moonshot Cast and Character Guide: Who Plays Who? (TheWrap)

Romantic comedy queen Lana Condor and funny guy Cole Sprouse co-star in the cast of the new sci-fi romantic comedy Moonshot.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "IndieWire"

'Moonshot' Review: Lana Condor and Cole Sprouse Lead a Sweet ... (IndieWire)

A penniless stowaway meets an uptight rich girl aboard a spaceship to Mars in this retro-futuristic YA throwback to classic rom-coms.

“Most people aren’t special,” Walt’s roommate (Lukas Gage) warns him before Walt travels across the cosmos to see about a girl, “but memories are special.” The rest of the movie embodies that idea to a tee. At a time when attention spans have been whittled down to the nub, and most streaming fare is paced at light speed in a desperate bid to stop people from looking at their phones, it’s delightful when something as fluffy and gossamer thin as “Moonshot” abides by the more traditional rhythms of its genre. Walt blackmails Sophie into sneaking him aboard her Virgin Galactic–looking flight to Mars, and the rest of “Moonshot” is all spry vibes and decidedly old-fashioned chemistry as our two leads pretend to couple up for the sake of appearances. A dramatic spacewalk notwithstanding, most of the trip is adorably quaint in its adherence to basic rom-com conventions. You can’t even text during takeoff aboard a Southwest Airlines flight that’s wheezing its way out of Reno! And how is it that gate security has somehow gotten less restrictive in the age of interplanetary travel? That’s where most of this modest but well-realized HBO Max original takes place, as its star-crossed tale about a rich girl named Sophie (Lana Condor) and penniless stowaway Walt (Cole Sprouse), who sneaks into her heart, as they’re largely confined to a cabin they’re forced to share for 55 million miles.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Mashable"

'Moonshot' review: A sci-fi rom-com fails to launch its genre's future (Mashable)

Lara Condor ("To All the Boys I've Loved Before") and Cole Sprouse ("Riverdale") fail to launch the future of the romantic comedy for Gen Z in "Moonshot".

I mean, call me a traditionalist, but I just don't consider two people on the rebound (while in space) to be the fairytale future I envision for the modern era rom-com. The script is fine, for a computer program: It checks almost every box on paper, all while missing that most vital human touch. Lacking all the skills needed to join humanity's Mars colony, Walt falls for a girl who inspires him to risk it all for his moonshot (get it?) dream. Predominantly centered around starry-eyed yet underachieving college student Walt (Sprouse), the story begins with a false start of a meet-cute. So while the movie has an abundance of individually pleasant elements, it's missing a lot of key parts on the whole. Despite some charming moments, though, Moonshot unfortunately does not deliver on its potential as a bold new future for the modern-day romantic comedy.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "IGN Southeast Asia"

Moonshot Review (IGN Southeast Asia)

Starring Riverdale/Zack & Cody's Cole Sprouse and Deadly Class' Lana Condor, Moonshot, which is mostly set aboard a transport spaceship to Mars (no, not the ...

The entire middle part of the story is just the two of them trying to not get in trouble after Walt sneaks aboard the Mars craft. Sophie is a genius in her field and the two mix like oil and water at first, yet both make huge impulsive decisions to head to Mars for love. Sprouse's Walt is an unfocused fly-by-the-seat-of-his pants guy while Condor's Sophie is the anxious plan-oriented type, and while it's not the best look to have an extraordinary woman fall for a supremely average dude (Walt's mediocrity is a humorous running joke), the movie still has the good sense to have him be the one to want to follow and support her.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Screen Rant"

Moonshot Cast & Character Guide (Screen Rant)

HBO Max's Moonshot puts together a cast of veteran actors in order to bring life to this strange and fantastical sci-fi romantic comedy.

Veteran actor Michelle Buteau also appears in First Wives Club, Awkwafina Is Nora From Queens, The Stand In, and Happiest Season. Walt is basically the wrench that the universe throws into Lana's plans for living out the rest of her life. When Walt meets a girl named Ginny (Emily Rudd), he gets the inspiration he needs to finally get to Mars through whatever means necessary – including stowing away on a rocket ship. Moonshot is thankfully manned by a spectacular cast who can breathe life into the movie's funny quips and optimistic sincerity. While the two head to Mars in hopes of seeing their respective significant others, they soon realize that they might be giving up their lives on Earth for the wrong reasons. Walt is an average young man with extraordinary and far-from-average dreams.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "The State News"

'Moonshot' review: HBO Max's rom-com shoots for the stars, but ... (The State News)

Cops and courts reporter Wajeeha Kamal gives her thoughts on the new HBO Max film, "Moonshot." Do you plan on seeing the new movie?

They made it work, and audiences will enjoy the film’s quirks regardless. Sophie, the other protagonist, is smitten with Calvin, her boyfriend, and they aren’t much of a couple. Nonetheless, visually the movie was nicely done. “Moonshot” captures that sentiment perfectly. I still don’t. Also, this film is co-produced by Greg Berlanti, or Mr. CW. So, temper whatever expectations you have going into it. This film was HBO’s attempt at competing with “that” genre of Netflix films.

Post cover
Image courtesy of "Screen Rant"

Every Song In Moonshot (Screen Rant)

The soundtrack for Moonshot is an upbeat mix of contemporary dance, pop, alternative, and rock – a list of songs that's perfect for any dance party.

Comedically echoing the story of Netflix's Stowaway, Walt sneaks onto the ship to see Ginny. Irfrane” by Breakbot: Walt mistakenly goes inside Sophie's room as this song plays. Meanwhile, Sophie fixes the Wi-Fi orb that Walt broke. By combining sci-fi, fantasy, comedy, and romance, Moonshot inevitably draws comparisons to films like Groundhog Day, Seeking A Friend For The End Of The World, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Set in the near-future of 2049, Moonshot sees a world in which humans have colonized Mars. Retro technologies and fashion pervade the space age, a bright and colorful version of humanity's future. Moonshot stars Riverdale's Cole Sprouse and Lana Condor of the To All The Boys saga as Walt and Sophie, students who team up to go to Mars to see their respective significant others.

Explore the last week