REVIEW — “Project Hail Mary”

Saving the world as a tall order to fill; it requires sacrifice, bravery and a little bit of reckless ambition. But Ryland Grace is the only man for the job. In Project Hail Mary, Ryan Gosling gives a very heartfelt and emotional performance as Grace, a humble science teacher with the hope of the world on his shoulders.

The film opens on a spaceship traveling to a distant planet. Grace awakens confused and distraught with no memory, the sole survivor of a suicide mission to find a cure to a mysterious intergalactic substance that is threatening to “eat the sun,” cool the Earth, and starve all humans. Grace is ill-prepared to navigate the massive ship floating through space. Fortunately, the genius is not truly alone.

His ship soon encounters an alien spacecraft piloted by an alien traveler: an intelligent rock-like creature on a similar mission. Grace’s attempts to befriend the alien and establish a rudimentary form of communication result in a charmingly goofy meet-cute. Grace nicknames his curious companion Rocky, and after developing a program to allow communication between the two, he gives Rocky a voice.

Portrayed in the film as a physical puppet instead of a CGI creation, Rocky is voiced by lead puppeteer James Ortiz. The choice to go with practical effects works brilliantly, as Ortiz truly brings the character to life in ways that computers could not. Much like Dug from the movie Up, Rocky is inquisitive, playful and kind. Rocky quickly becomes a strong asset and loyal friend to Grace, and the feeling is mutual. Working alongside each other to save their respective planets from extinction, Grace and Rocky develop an endearing friendship that drives the film to spectacular new heights and emotional depths.

A beautiful mix of E.T. and Interstellar, the science-driven intergalactic buddy comedy is based on the novel by Andy Weir (The Martian) and a screenplay by Drew Goddard. Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the duo behind The LEGO Movie and 21 Jump Street franchises, keep the tone light with jokes and barbs between the two intelligent beings. However, the film has surprisingly emotional moments that reveal the central question at the heart of its story: what (or whom) would you give your life to save?

Grace’s story is told through flashbacks to his recruitment, training and planning. While Gosling’s charisma is intact as Grace, so is an equal amount of emotional earnestness that strikes a captivating balance between his signature goofy charm and stoic stillness. Grace is confident in his scientific abilities but humbled by self-doubt: an interesting departure for the generally cocksure character actor. The film also stars Ken Leung, Milana Vayntrub, Priya Kansara and Lionel Boyce.

Back on Earth, Sandra Hüller’s mission leader Eva Stratt is cold, literal and to the point. Eva must make difficult decisions to ensure Earth’s survival, so she states things simply as a matter of fact, comically providing Grace with zero warmth as she delivers dire expository details on the life-or-death risks of his longshot mission. Except for a brief moment while singing Harry Styles karaoke, she is mostly devoid of comfort.

It is a perfect role for the celebrated German actress. While Eva has a deep respect for Grace’s scientific intellect and unorthodox ideas, she understands that sacrifices must be made to preserve life on the planet. Grace is her diamond in the rough, and while he may not believe in himself, he is Earth’s last hope and she knows it.

While the film can be long, goofy at times, scientifically dense, and may take a bit to get its bearings, once it gains momentum, Project Hail Mary quickly escalates into a nailbiting cosmic adventure. With a rock solid heart, the film transcends into a surprisingly emotional intergalactic experience that truly takes audiences to another world. 4/5

Rated PG-13 with a running time of 2 hours and 36 minutes, Project Hail Mary opens only in theaters and IMAX on March 20, 2026.