'Project Hail Mary': A Fun, Spectacular Sci-Fi Blockbuster

PHOTO: Amazon MGM Studios

A scientist finds himself alone and fighting to survive in outer space. This basic premise may sound familiar, as there have been several versions of it told over the years. One of the most recent of these is The Martian, which originated as a novel by Andy Weir before getting adapted for the big screen in 2015. Both the book and the film were well-received and helped put Weir on the map. In 2021, Weir’s novel Project Hail Mary was released and garnered wide acclaim. The book once again follows one man’s quest for survival, but with a couple of twists. The first being that the story begins with our protagonist waking up on a spaceship with no memory of who he is or how he got there. Much of the novel jumps between him on the ship and his memories as he regains them. The second major factor is that he eventually encounters a mysterious alien who might be able to help him out. 

The book’s success paved the way for a feature adaptation, with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller directing and Drew Goddard writing the screenplay. Given the nonlinear structure and sci-fi elements of the novel, it wouldn’t be an easy feat to adapt Project Hail Mary as a film. Not to mention that this is arguably Lord and Miller’s biggest project to date, so this was a film that could have truly gone either way. But the duo have made a career of exceeding expectations, making films that might seem like they wouldn’t work but ultimately end up being well-made, funny, and rather rewatchable. The same can easily be said for Project Hail Mary, which sees Lord and Miller deliver a strong book-to-screen adaptation that features gorgeous spectacle, plenty of heart, and a healthy dose of humor. This is the year’s first big blockbuster, and I’d be surprised if anything else surpasses it in terms of quality. 

Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up on a spaceship with no memory of who he is or how he got there. As his memories resurface, we find out that he is a former biologist turned middle school Science teacher who was recruited for a dangerous mission to understand a mysterious substance that is killing the Sun. Stuck alone in space, Grace must rely on his knowledge and ingenuity to survive. But when he encounters another ship carrying an alien creature from a distant planet on a mission of his own, he finds an unlikely ally. The two begin to work together to save their respective planets and return home, all while Grace continues to piece together who he is and what all the mission entails.

Having read the book not too long before I saw the film, I was curious just how well the film’s detailed storytelling and inventive sci-fi elements would translate to the screen. While the novel isn’t necessarily dense, it still has stuff that might be a bit heady for the average moviegoer. If it fully copied what the book does, the film runs the risk of feeling overcomplicated. But if it yada-yada’d past a lot of it, it would be borderline incomprehensible. Thankfully, Drew Goddard manages to strike a good balance between the two, retaining much of the mythos Weir created while also streamlining things just enough to be easily understood. It is an adaptation that understands what the book did so well, and how to adjust it to be more cinematic. It certainly cuts to the chase with some of the memories that resurface for Ryland Grace, but it doesn’t feel like it is brushing past anything. It recognizes the most important elements from the novel while also feeling like its own thing. In other words, it is mostly faithful despite its changes, which feel necessary in order to make the film flow better. The heart and soul of the novel is still very much present, and I feel that fans of it will be extremely happy with the film.

The film grabbed me instantly thanks to the use of lights and Daniel Pemberton’s amazing score. The film makes great use of the camera throughout, utilizing twists, lens flares, and color exceptionally well. It also has excellent visual effects, most of which were achieved practically. The production design and creature design are fantastic, and it truly draws you into the film itself. I was lucky enough to catch this in IMAX, and I definitely recommend seeing it that way or in any other large format as it is tremendous when viewed on that scale. It is the first film to truly wow me on a technical level this year, setting the bar high for other films that have yet to be released. 

Phil Lord and Chris Miller never fail to impress me, as their films always deliver. Perhaps it helps that I’ve met everything they’ve done with varying levels of skepticism, even though they consistently turn in good work. It’s just that there are certain variables to the films they direct that could easily ruin the whole project, but they always manage to avoid them. I can’t help but feel that there might have been a fire under them for Project Hail Mary, as it gave the duo another  opportunity to make a big sci-fi film after being fired from 2018’s Solo: A Star Wars Story. It’s clear that this really stung for them, as they haven’t directed a film since, focusing more on writing and producing. This very well could have motivated them to give all they had to Project Hail Mary, as they use every bit of their large budget to create phenomenal spectacle and tell a compelling story that will connect with audiences all over the world. And above all, they prove that they are not just gifted at comedy, but can handle the film’s more tender moments and its sci-fi components extremely well. Lord and Miller once again prove that they are capable of more than one would think and make the case for them handling bigger projects like this again in the future.

The film is also a great starring vehicle for Ryan Gosling, who is excellent in the film. The book’s version of Ryland Grace is smart, yet awkward, embodying a dorkiness that is strangely endearing. Gosling’s take is a bit different, but he still brings an awkwardness that feels much more organic to him as an actor. The film wastes no time getting the audience to care about him, and Gosling’s innate likability only makes it easier. The role also allows him to flex his comedic muscles, as he got quite a few laughs out of me throughout. But beyond that, Gosling is able to capture the emotional state of Grace beautifully, as we can feel the anger, the sadness, the joy, and the drive to survive that he experiences throughout the film. And to top it all off, much of the film is a two-hander where he acts opposite a puppet, which provides its own challenges. Gosling is so good with everyone he acts alongside in the film, but he is especially great in the scenes with him and the alien creature known as Rocky. The dynamic between them is well-written, but it is the way Gosling plays it that takes it to the next level. This is one of my favorite Gosling performances, and proves that he is still one of our best movie stars. 

Aside from Gosling, my favorite performance in the film is easily James Ortiz as the voice and puppeteer for Rocky. While there is some great animation that aids in the performance, Ortiz’s contributions are instrumental to the character. His voice acting is incredible, and truly brings Rocky to life. He is also quite funny throughout, but he also makes you really feel for him. It’s always impressive when a film can make you connect with a puppet or an animated character, and Ortiz’s work here is perhaps the most effective instance I can recall in recent memory. Rocky is easily one of the best aspects of the whole film, and so much of that is due to Ortiz’s performance.

Project Hail Mary is a phenomenal tale of survival and the importance of connection, making for a thrilling and heartwarming experience that has some serious staying power. It is a crowdpleaser that is sure to make you laugh, cheer, and maybe even shed a couple of tears. It is the type of film I can see myself revisiting again and again for years to come and I wouldn’t be surprised if others come out of this feeling the same. This is the type of film you don’t want to miss on the big screen, and in this case, the bigger, the better. It is truly spectacular, both as an adaptation and as a big-budget blockbuster, and is sure to wow audiences.

Rating: 4.5/5