“Project Hail Mary” is a thrilling sci-fi adventure that’s smart, emotional and funny. It’s a solid big-screen adaptation of the beloved novel by Andy Weir (“The Martian”), easily one of the favorite movies of the year so far.
With its mix of science, heart and humor, it could even be an early contender come awards season.
The story follows science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling), who wakes up on a spaceship far from Earth with no memory of how he got there. He slowly recalls that his mission is to save humanity from a mysterious alien lifeform that is draining the sun’s energy. Along the way, he meets an unlikely ally, an alien named Rocky, and together they try to solve the problem and save the world.
The movie shines in how it makes complex science and math exciting and easy to follow.
Every experiment, calculation, and challenge feels like a real puzzle, keeping viewers engaged while showing how the impossible might just be possible.
But what really makes the film memorable is its emotional heart. Grace’s journey shows what it’s like to be completely alone in space, lost, scared, and facing enormous responsibility. And then comes his relationship with Rocky, which is funny, touching and surprisingly human. Even without a shared language, their friendship grows, giving the story warmth and humor.
Gosling’s performance is a highlight. He’s not a typical heroic figure, he hesitates, doubts himself and struggles, but his persistence and vulnerability make him easy to root for. This also make him a contender for Best Actor.
Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the movie balances big space-adventure thrills with intimate, emotional moments. It stays faithful to Weir’s novel while translating the story beautifully to the big screen.
In the end, “Project Hail Mary” is a smart, emotional, and funny film that’s so entertaining you won’t even notice its two-and-a-half-hour runtime.
Early reactions from press and critics
An early screening of “Project Hail Mary” has already earned rave reviews, with critics calling the film “imagination unleashed.”
Journalist Liam Crowley posted on social media:
“#ProjectHailMary is perfect. Imagination unleashed even better than I pictured it on the page. How Gosling captivates throughout a largely one-man show is beyond me—your earliest Best Actor contender. & my sweet prince Rocky… tears flowed all third act. What a beautiful display of companionship. Heartwarming. Heartbreaking. And genuinely funny! An absolute must-see theatrical experience.”
Variety editor Jazz Tangcay wrote:
“#ProjectHailMary is masterful and so beautifully done. A truly heartwarming story of humanity and friendship. A superb performance from Ryan Gosling—a career best. Greig Fraser’s cinematography is exquisite to perfection.”
Writer Kevin Verma shared on X:
“#ProjectHailMary absolutely floored me. Lord and Miller deliver a space odyssey that is deeply human and heartwarming. Ryan Gosling is fantastic here and brings emotion and charm to this SciFi epic. Incredible visuals and a pulsing score. You wanna see this one in @IMAX.”
Gizmodo senior reporter Germain Lussier added:
“#ProjectHailMary is pure joy. Hilarious, heartfelt, hugely moving, wildly exciting and absolutely beautiful. The 160 minutes go by in an instant as Lord and Miller keep Weir’s narrative moving like a rocket ship. Gosling is better than ever and the Rocky effect is mind blowing.”
“Project Hail Mary,” also co-produced by Gosling, has set off in Philippine cinemas today, March 18.
READ: Ryan Gosling channels ‘La La Land’ for ‘Project Hail Mary’ poster
—Rosette Adel
