High School Science Teacher Dr. Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up alone in deep space aboard the shuttle Hail Mary. Unaware of why he is there due to amnesia brought on from the induced coma used to aid his travel, he must remember his mission, befriend an alien, and save Earth’s Sun from dying. 

Grace’s story unfolds in two viewpoints. His memories slowly returning of how he came to be here and his mission to save Earth from a cataclysmic ice age event. 

In the story of how he arrived on the Hail Mary, his main co-star is the phlegmatic project manager Eva Stratt (Sandra Huller). Tasked with all the funds of every government in the world, it is her job to mobilise the world’s scientists and engineers to deliver a solution to why the Sun is dimming. Turning to Grace, whose previous career as a scientist makes him a perfect choice for the job, they begin work on discovering what is dimming the Sun. 

In the story of how Grace will save the planet, he finds himself making First Contact with alien life. Befriending an engineer whom he names Rocky (voiced by James Ortiz), they set about saving both their worlds’ stars. Where Grace’s relationship with Stratt is formal and stoic, his relationship with Rocky is exuberant and fun. 

All of this is brought together by the sheer star power and charisma of Ryan Gosling. His recent move to family-friendly blockbusters has allowed him to inject lots of humour in amongst his broody silences.  

Project Hail Mary is based on a novel written by Andy Weir, the author best known for The Martian, which has also been adapted into a film. Both stories have a shared DNA that sees an incredibly capable scientist marooned in space and tasked with solving one problem after another. What makes them fascinating is their efforts to be as scientifically accurate as possible in a desolate and dangerous landscape. They are the ultimate uplifting examples of mankind using their minds to save themselves. 

It would make sense then for studio executives to reach out to screenwriter Drew Goddard, who adapted The Martian to work his magic here. The result is incredible. Remaining remarkably faithful to the book and managing to generate lots of humour, different types of friendships, and ultimately make everyone watching feel clever for understanding what they are being told. It’s also hard work to make something feel natural when our main character spends a lot of time alone. Thank heavens for video diaries. 

Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, most famous for producing a slew of animated films including the Spider-Verse films, have not directed a film since 2014’s 22 Jump Street. Although perhaps their aborted directorial efforts on Solo: A Star Wars Story gave them the taste of science fiction, as this film melds their flair for comedy and some real technical brilliance in bringing to life the visual effects of space and alien life. 

Project Hail Mary is a lot of fun. It manages to be a heartfelt buddy comedy, an exciting action adventure, and occasionally delve into the human spirit and how each of us can be driven in a different way. 

Highly recommended.