Have you ever woken up alone in a spaceship with no memories or idea where you’re going? If so, please come to our meetings, because you might be a really hot scientist. Unfortunately for Ryland Grace, played by Ryan Gosling, he is unable to come as the sun is dying out. “Project Hail Mary” is Earth’s collective effort to stop this event, and the film alternates between scenes on the spaceship and flashbacks to Earth as Ryland slowly recovers his memories. The amount of switching back and forth could easily ruin the film, but it doesn’t, and the thematic payoff at the end is well worth it. 

Like “The Martian,” another movie based on an Andy Weir novel, much of the film features Ryan Gosling talking to the camera, or incredibly beautiful views of space, but the meat of the story is in a series of three buddy cop movies. First, it’s Ryland and security guard Carl (Lionel Boyce), letting us know that, despite the circumstances, this is not a dark film. Then it’s the head of the project and most German woman alive (Sandra Hüller), who has fantastic on-screen chemistry with Gosling while representing the cold logic of necessity and efficiency (see? German). Finally, it’s man’s best friend, alien. I won’t talk much about Rocky (the alien), but it’s no big spoiler that he’s around and far more heartwarming than hostile. These relationships give the film its sense of adventure, but are also very effective at building up the personal stakes beyond the universe-destroying threat introduced early on in the movie. 

This movie was based on the 2021 novel of the same name, and I think it’s as well adapted as any movie really can be. While some scientific details and a plot about how they got the energy to build the spaceship were removed, most major plot points are similar. More importantly, the emotional core of the book is much improved, and the plot points feel much more earned.

The credit for this goes to many, including the directing duo Lord and Miller, but the top of the pile has to be Ryan Gosling. I may be a bit biased, as he is my family’s favorite actor, and we have watched the very underrated “Fall Guy” eight times and counting, but his performance in “Hail Mary” shows once again that he is the best. 

Featured image: Betty Cavicchia’28