Project Hail Mary is definitely one of the films I’m looking forward to in 2026. I haven’t read the book by Andy Weir, but I know it’s a favorite of my cousin’s. I’m a huge fan of The Martian, which is also based on a book by Weir and features a lone protagonist stuck in space on a mission to save humanity. I hadn’t read the book before watching the movie either, and honestly, I enjoy being surprised by the plot, so I tried to go in fresh as much as I could.
In the not-so-distant future, molecular biologist Dr. Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up from a coma on a spaceship. Gosling’s talent for physical comedy shines as Grace is completely erratic and struggling with amnesia, trying to escape from the robotic ‘assistant’ on board. He faces one shocking revelation after another, realizing that two of his crew members have passed away, leaving him as the only survivor, and that he’s light-years away in a far-off star system.
As Grace’s memory gradually comes back, we uncover his past and the world he’s left behind through flashbacks. We catch glimpses of his life as an overqualified middle-school teacher, a role he loves and clearly enjoys with his students. Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, this film is marketed as a sci-fi comedy, and it definitely brings a lot of laughs. Drew Goddard adapted Weir’s novel for the screen, which makes perfect sense since he received an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Martian. The initial scenes of Grace trying to find his footing (sometimes literally) on the spacecraft are packed with hilarious moments; it’s a fantastic example of non-verbal storytelling that showcases the lead actor’s charisma.
Gosling gives one of his finest performances; I’d even argue it’s the best of his career from the roughly dozen films of his I’ve watched. Confession: there was a time when I wasn’t a huge fan of Gosling, but I’ve long recognized him as a talented and versatile actor, and that versatility shines through in this role. He manages to mix comedy with his dry humor while also showing real vulnerability, convincing us that he’s the scientific wunderkind and the only person who can save us all. Taking on the role of Grace is no easy feat since he’s on screen for about 99% of the time, often being the sole character present during the nearly 2.5-hour runtime. He’s obviously easy on the eyes (I mean, he is Barbie’s Ken after all), but what’s more crucial is that he has that ‘every man’ vibe, similar to Matt Damon and Tom Hanks, who have both portrayed the solitary hero so well in The Martian and Cast Away, respectively.
As impressive as Gosling was at carrying the film solo, I was a bit impatient waiting for his alien buddy that we caught a glimpse of in the trailer. But when that rock-shelled, vision-challenged, pentagonal, crab-like creature finally appeared, it was a total highlight; the energy in the theater shot up as we all felt the same mix of excitement and anxiety as Grace. I mean, we’ve seen plenty of sci-fi flicks where aliens come to attack us.
Grace dubs his new pal Rocky (a fitting name and a fun nod to Sly’s boxing franchise), and he somehow figures out how to communicate through musical notes. Grace’s computer translates Rocky’s speech, and there’s even a funny moment where they try to find a voice for Rocky (including a voice cameo from Meryl Streep). James Ortiz ends up being the voice for Rocky, and he’s also the puppeteer, which is just spot on. Props to legendary creature designer Neal Scanlan for the adorable character design of Rocky.
The film really hinges on the chemistry between Grace and Rocky. The movie is at its most enjoyable when the two are together, with Rocky effortlessly stealing the scenes. I adore the ‘dance sequence,’ Rocky being perplexed by a human hug, and when Grace teaches Rocky how to do a thumbs-up. It’s a real credit to the direction and the acting that we buy into their unexpected yet authentic connection.
Weir’s tale gives us a fascinating glimpse into alien life that we don’t often see in movies. Aliens are often depicted as wicked conquerors, benevolent saviors, or strange and unfathomable entities. In this case, Grace and Rocky meet as colleagues in the sci-fi realm, kind of like peers in their own distinct worlds. Rocky hails from Erid, a fictional planet based on a real star system (the 40 Eridani system). Both characters find themselves isolated during a crucial mission, feeling both drained and lonely. Their relationship grows as they share a common struggle and goal to rescue their respective planets.
The one word I’ve come across for the first time here is Astrophage, a microorganism that devours stars, specifically feeding on our sun and making it dim. Early on, we see Eva Stratt (Sandra Hüller, in her first American film), the powerful head of a global task force, telling Grace that this sun dimming could lead to a disastrous global cooling in just 30 years. Some of the science and astrophysics stuff went over my head, but I find myself really engrossed in Grace’s various experiments and his sheer resourcefulness. Lord and Miller made the whole discovery process enjoyable and visually captivating, which is great because it could easily become really dull otherwise. The movie is visually and audibly impressive, all thanks to Greig Fraser‘s dazzling cinematography and Daniel Pemberton‘s music, which I would describe as soulful with a touch of whimsy. I appreciate how the music is toned down during key scenes, allowing us to fully absorb the moment without any distractions.
The movie’s shifting between past and present timelines can get a little discombobulating at times, which likely isn’t a problem in the book. But there are some really cool scenes, such as the bond between Grace and his assigned security guard Carl (Lionel Boyce) and the usually stoic Stratt belting out karaoke. In the book, Stratt is Dutch, but here she’s portrayed by the German actress Hüller, who is totally ruthless as she puts humanity’s survival above all else. By pushing Grace into a suicide mission, the film raises tough moral questions about the value of one life when an entire species is on the line. It’s a complicated question with no easy answer, but the movie doesn’t get too heavy about it; instead, it’s filled with a sense of wonder and the beauty of unexpected friendship.
The one quibble I have about Project Hail Mary is that it feels a tad too long. Thankfully, it’s a mostly engaging crowd-pleaser that makes me laugh and cry in equal measure. Even though there were some predictable parts, I was buoyed by its hopeful message. In an increasingly divisive world, there’s something quite radical about seeing how the power of friendship and teamwork can save our world and others, too. The title refers to a mission whose success is a long shot, but the movie is poised for a touchdown in terms of critical and box-office success.
Project Hail Mary is in theaters this Friday
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I don’t know if I will see this in theaters though I do like what Lord and Miller have done in the past. Plus, I love Ryan Gosling.
Yeah, Lord & Miller are one of the best filmmaking duos working today and if you love Gosling then this one is for you!
Just came back from seeing the movie- please forgive me for this very long comment ^_^; Spoiler warning!
I skimmed through your review here since I’m seeing this one on Sunday afternoon. I hope it does well, Gosling is in need of a box office hit. All of the big films that he was the lead were all box office bombs. Blade Runner 2049, First Man and Fall Guy were expensive flops. I read this one costs well over $200mil to make.
Hey Ted, so did you see this earlier today? I’m curious to hear what you think. Have you read the book, btw?
I didn’t realize Gosling has been in a series of expensive flops, esp. Fall Guy, which I thought would do well. Whoa, it cost $200 mil to make? No wonder he’s been quite aggressive promoting this one, as he’s also producing this. I do think it’ll do pretty well based on the reviews and people’s interest level.
I did not, I was planning to but then the goat on my foot flared up yesterday and it’s painful walking around. I’m waiting till it heals then I’ll see it.
Oh yeah, he appeared in three big flops, Barbie doesn’t count because he was the secondary character. But Blade Runner 2049, First Man and Fall Guy all flopped. But it looks like this one did pretty well over the weekend. He also has the new Star Wars coming out next summer, so he should be in demand to star in more big films since I’m sure that Star Wars film will be a hit too.
Confess
Watching this tomorrow and I will comment again post-watching the movie. One thought I have is I’m afraid I’ll compare this to E.T. but maybe this is the grown up version of E.T. I hated how they showed Rocky in the trailer. When I was reading the book, Rocky was the biggest surprise! You’ve read so many pages and guessed how Grace was going to make it- not once that I guessed it was going to be an alien friend.
I’m sooo looking forward to the beginning of the movie (pre-Rocky). I’m betting it will be better than reading how lonely and sad Grace is. It will probably be really funny or really dark, LOL.
Hey Esther!! So did you see it yet? Did you go w/ your mom or your friends? I’m VERY curious to hear what you think since you loved the book. It’s interesting that you immediately thought of ET but I didn’t see it that way, even after you mentioned it. I just think the relationship is quite different between Grace and Rocky.
Yeah, I feel like Hollywood needs to be better at keeping the mystery in the trailers and not give so much away! I’d have loved to be surprised to see Rocky while seeing the movie, though thankfully it didn’t spoil my enjoyment. The character design is so adorable! The beginning of the movie is good, though I feel like the film portrays Grace’s experience being alone in space in a more comedic way, except for the moment he eulogizes the two crewmembers who died in the spacecraft. That part is quite sad.
Excellent reviews as always. “Project Hail Mary” is one of my most anticipated movies of the year that I am really excited to see soon. I have always been a massive fan of Ryan Gosling and adore all the films he has made in his career. He always picks his projects wisely showcasing talent in every single genre. I also love science-fiction films about space survival. The concept for this movie reminds me a lot about “The Martian”, which is another sci-fi film I love. So, it seems that this movie was tailor-made for me. I have a strong feeling that I will love it. My hope is that it would live up to my high expectations and not leave me disappointed.
Here’s a list of my favourite Ryan Gosling films:
Hey Hasan! The comparison to The Martian makes total sense, as the book it’s based on is also written by Andy Weir. I’ve grown to appreciate him more, though initially I wasn’t a big fan. I thought he was hilarious in Barbie and in this one. Sounds like this movie is indeed tailor-made for you since you like Gosling and sci-fi comedies! I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!
Also, confession: I didn’t watch this for Ryan Gosling. He’s really good in it! For some reason I thought Gosling only did rom-coms.
And thanks for including the tidbits about the directors, the cinematographer and the other stars! I don’t usually pay attention to this part and it’s really fun to know ❤️.
Thank you Esther for this lovely comment!! Love that we got to discuss this at length via text, too, so fun!! Maybe we can rewatch this when Ivan & I visit NH later this fall!
Mwahaha, Gosling is more versatile than that; he does more than just rom-coms! I actually love him in the action comedy. The Nice Guys with Russell Crowe.
I always pay attention to the directors, crew and cast when reviewing, as it takes a village to make a movie! 🙂
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Thanks Ruth! This sounds like a good movie.
Okay,… back to making a slideshow to project at the art show!
xoxoxoxoxox
This is a good one! Good for Canadian Ryan Gosling finally got a massive hit movie on his hands!
Best of luck with the slideshow for the show. I know it must be hard for you to choose which gowns to feature, it’s like Sophie’s Choice!
XOXOXO
💐🌸🌷˚˖𓍢ִִ໋🌼🧺˚˖𓍢ִ🌿˚.🌻
Lol…Resa’s Choice!
Let’s make the movie!
💐🌸🌷˚˖𓍢ִִ໋🌼🧺˚˖𓍢ִ🌿˚.🌻
A little bit too long for me too, but the chemistry between Rocky and Ryan was off the charts! What music and cinematography too!
Yeah, the unlikely friendship really is the highlight. An enjoyable crowd pleaser that I don’t mind watching again.
Yeah, I read he wasn’t a big name but a puppet expert, and they realised he was perfect and didn’t need to change.
Yeah, James Ortiz is a theater actor and puppeteer. His team of puppeteers are called the “Rockyteers” (awww!) and they worked on set with Gosling for months.
You really can sense that bond. The film jumped up so many levels when they started sharing the screen.
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