Film Review: Project Hail Mary
An unassuming molecular biologist becomes Earth’s unlikely savior in a superb theatrical adaptation of Andy Weir’s bestselling novel Project Hail Mary. Co-directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller capture the book’s themes of friendship, heroism, and finding courage in the depths of self-doubt. Striking visual effects and an endearing lead performance from Ryan Gosling propel Project Hail Mary into early contention for one of the year’s best films. The runtime does stretch slightly past two and a half hours, but the drama, tension, and surprising bursts of comedy keep you fully engaged. The film’s sense of wonder and adventure should also resonate with younger viewers, making it a genuinely family‑friendly space epic.
The premise has Earth's sun mysteriously dimming with catastrophic results predicted in mere decades if the problem persists. The planet will freeze with all life in danger of extinction. Junior high school teacher Dr. Ryland Grace (Gosling) tries to calm the nerves of his fearful students, but acknowledges the serious threat. He's stunned to get a visit from Eva Stratt (Sandra Hüller), a no-nonsense German scientist spearheading the global response to the crisis. It turns out Ryland was mocked for his belief that microbial life didn't need water to survive. Eva informs Ryland that he may be right, and his expertise is immediately needed.
We next see Ryland waking up in deep space aboard the spaceship Hail Mary in the Tau Ceti system. He has no memory of how he got there, and is aghast to discover that his crewmates did not survive the years-long voyage. A bewildered Ryland begins to piece his memory back together. A microbe he dubs "Astrophage" is literally consuming every star in this sector of the Milky Way galaxy...except one. Tau Ceti is somehow not affected, and he assumes the mission is to find out why in a "Hail Mary" chance to save Earth. But he's not an astronaut and never had any training. Why is he on the ship? And what happened to his memory? How can he accomplish this extraordinary task alone? The answer presents itself when a terrified Ryland is alerted to an alien vessel approaching the Hail Mary.
Gosling portrays Ryland as an obviously brilliant man who doesn't believe in himself. He's not selfless or a hero. It's a one-way trip to Tau Ceti. Why would he volunteer for his own suicide? Ryland's confusion about his presence on the Hail Mary is slowly addressed in flashback sequences. We see what transpired on Earth before the launch as he engages with the alien and tries to solve the Astrophage dilemma in concurrent narratives. This approach provides key exposition to Ryland's character development, and most importantly, his evolution from meek and reticent to humanity’s champion.
Project Hail Mary steals your heart with the introduction of its second protagonist. James Ortiz co-stars as the primary puppeteer and voice of Rocky, a spider-like alien who Ryland befriends in space. Audiences will laugh out loud as both characters overcome their fears and learn to communicate in a tremendous second act. Lord and Miller (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, 21 Jump Street, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse franchise) take the time to grow Ryland's and Rocky's relationship. They are kindred spirits from worlds apart facing a dire scenario that will require critical thinking and pulse-pounding acts of bravery when what can go wrong inevitably does. These scenes are fantastic, entirely believable, and naturally progress the film's greatest lesson.
Ryland's lack of faith in himself is not shared by the people and alien who come to know him. Eva and Rocky both see Ryland as capable of monumental growth. He's innately kind with an untapped reservoir of strength and personal fortitude. Much like a child learning to swim or ride a bike, he just needed a little push in the right direction. The always affable Gosling transforms Ryland into the right man for the job. He fulfills the potential that everyone knew he had in a thrilling final act with several stunning surprises. Project Hail Mary isn't predictable in the end, as the characters' fates aren't guaranteed.
The visual and sound effects team deserve praise for an incredibly cinematic experience. You'll get goosebumps as Ryland explores Rocky's amazing ship and they both tackle unexpected deviations from their audacious plan. This is in addition to the scenes on Earth where the ship and crew were trained. It's clearly evident that the filmmakers wanted scientific accuracy as the Tau Ceti star, its planets, and the Astrophage burst with vibrant realism. The film stays grounded and doesn't stray into the realm of sci-fi fantasy. Project Hail Mary warrants an IMAX or premium theater experience.
Project Hail Mary hearkens back to sci-fi classics with the perfect blend of story, casting, and blockbuster production values. But a little patience is required for the complex plot to fully develop. Lord and Miller cut no corners here. They remain faithful to the source material and allow Gosling to fully inhabit all aspects of Ryland's eventually dauntless character.
Project Hail Mary is a production of Pascal Pictures, General Admission, and Lord Miller Productions. It will be released theatrically on March 20th from Amazon MGM Studios.
