‘Moonshot’ May Be a Sci-Fi Rom-Com, But That's Not Why It's a Must-Watch

*Warning: Spoilers ahead*

Fasten your seatbelts, because Moonshot is about to take you on a ride that’s much wilder than you expected.

The new sci-fi rom-com, which hits HBO Max on March 31, follows a brilliant college student named Sophie (Lana Condor), who enrolls in the Kovi Industries Program to travel to Mars and be with her boyfriend, Calvin. However, a barista's assistant named Walt (Cole Sprouse) also sneaks onto the space shuttle. And over the course of their 35-day journey to Mars, they develop an unlikely romance. Sounds simple, right?

But here’s the thing—this movie isn’t just a charming fairytale. Moonshot also explores the concept of the American Dream and boldly tackles immigration—but it does so under the guise of a love story that’s set in space. Yes, Sprouse and Condor’s comedic chops are sure to elicit a few chuckles and their chemistry is believable. But the film also holds a giant mirror up to America, exposing its many flaws through thought-provoking themes and layers of symbolism.

All throughout the movie, we’re pretty much bombarded with real-life parallels that are hard to miss. For instance, there’s Walt’s story arc, which closely mirrors those of ambitious immigrants who once viewed America as the promised land. In the film, Walt is so desperate to go to Mars that he applies (and gets rejected) a whopping 37 times. That alone speaks to the false notion that people who have less money should just “work harder” to earn their success when, clearly, this isn’t always the case. And when Walt obsesses over this Utopian planet (to the point where he can’t even focus on his job), it feels similar to the true stories of visitors who put the U.S. on a pedestal.

One standout moment comes when Walt attends a party with his friend and instantly connects with a woman he believes is his dream girl. In typical fashion, he airs his frustrations about not getting to escape the “garbage factory” that is Earth (more on this later) and go to a better planet. In response, Ginny (Emily Rudd) says, “When you look at something from this distance, it’s all possibility. Then every step you take towards that strips it away, until it is what it is. What it always has been.”

Those overly poetic words don’t stop Walt from sneaking aboard a space shuttle and expecting the adventure of a lifetime. He goes after Ginny and he finally makes it to his dream destination. But in just a matter of days, he starts to see Mars and his long-time billionaire hero, Leon Kovi (Zach Braff), for what they really are. And that initial excitement quickly wears off.

Moonshot may be a feel-good romcom with cheesy dialogue—but it isn’t the kind of movie you want to casually breeze through. A closer look at the details will tell you that it also has plenty to say about our modern society, from classism to immigration policies.

For a full breakdown of PureWow's entertainment rating system, click here.

Want top shows and movies sent right to your inbox? Click here.

Check out our new weekly podcast, Stream On, featuring reviews and debates about the best shows, movies and more!