Project Hail Mary: Film Adaptation

Hard to imagine a film that genuinely has it all, but this is that movie. Maybe the best Ryan Gosling has ever been. Rocky is the best alien. Truly spectacular. -- Letterboxd Reviewer

(MAY CONTAIN SLIGHT SPOILERS)

Overview

The film Project Hail Mary, starring Ryan Gosling, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, is based on the 2021 novel by Andy Weir. The movie follows Ryland Grace, a middle school science teacher and molecular biologist, who wakes up alone on a spaceship with no memory of his mission.

As the story unfolds, Grace discovers that Earth is facing extinction due to a mysterious alien organism that is draining energy from the sun. His mission is to travel to a distant star that has somehow resisted this threat, in hopes of figuring out how to stop it and save humanity. But he encounters another massive spaceship, where he meets an alien he later names Rocky. 

A major part of the story involves Grace’s isolation in space, since the other 2 crew members have already passed away. But, this change once he meets Rocky, whose witty personality and odd cuteness keeps him company. 

Recent Popularity

In recent months, the audiobook version of PHM has gained popularity, bringing the characters to life through Ray Porter's narration and the unique alien audio effects. If you are someone who has read the book, the film manages to stay very similar to its well-loved novel. Fans have especially appreciated how the relationship between Rocky and Grace has been portrayed, since that’s such an important part of the story.

My Short Opinion

Personally, I think this movie stands out because it feels like more than just a sci-fi survival story. At its core, it’s really a feel-good movie that will easily pull on your heartstrings. Even with the serious “end of the world” stakes and emotional moments, it still manages to stay lighthearted and keep you laughing. The film also has really strong visual effects, which help bring both space and Rocky to life in an unbelievable way. I will not be surprised if this film is nominated for multiple awards this upcoming year.