Project Hail Mary review: Ryan Gosling rocks in thrilling space adventure

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Project Hail Mary is a thrilling space adventure that successfully combines the exciting elements of both The Martian and Interstellar, and features a fantastic performance by Ryan Gosling.

The saying goes that lightning never strikes the same place twice, but that’s not true for science fiction author Andy Weir. His stories, like those that became hugely popular movies, are proving to be lightning in a bottle – happening again and again.

Andy Weir’s 2011 novel, The Martian, is a thrilling science fiction story that celebrates human skill and resourcefulness. It features a captivating performance by Matt Damon, who spends most of the story on screen by himself.

The popular 2021 novel, Project Hail Mary, has been turned into an exciting science fiction story highlighting human skill and resourcefulness. Ryan Gosling delivers a captivating performance, often acting solo for much of the film. He eventually connects with an alien character—who is sure to become a fan favorite—but we’ll share more about that later.

What is Project Hail Mary about?

Okay, so Project Hail Mary is basically about this astronaut who keeps getting thrown into these crazy, smaller missions within the bigger mission to save Earth. It all starts because something terrible is happening back home – like, potentially the end of the world kind of terrible! It’s a really exciting setup, constantly throwing new challenges at him.

The cause of this upcoming event is something scientists are calling ‘The Petrova Line’ – a series of dots that seem to be diminishing the sun’s energy. This will likely cause Earth to cool down by 10 to 15 degrees over the next thirty years, and that’s a serious problem.

Okay, so thankfully the smartest people on the planet figured out a plan. It involves sending a pilot, an engineer, and a scientist up into space to try and fix things and, you know, save the world. It’s a classic setup, but I’m hoping it leads to some awesome gameplay!

Unfortunately, the mission didn’t go as expected, and now our fate rests with a remarkably intelligent and attractive man.

Who does Ryan Gosling play?

Ryan Gosling stars as Dr. Ryland Grace, a brilliant scientist who wakes up on a spaceship with amnesia. He doesn’t remember his own name, or anything about his past, and is sporting long hair and a beard.

The character suffers from amnesia, leaving him lost and confused about his location and purpose. The story begins with him following Grace around the spaceship, trying to piece together what happened.

Ryland soon finds two more members of the crew, but they’re both mysteriously dead, leaving him completely alone. He occasionally feels like someone is nearby, almost as if they’re cutting his hair.

He’s facing a major identity crisis, revealed bit by bit through memories. Meanwhile, Grace is learning about the trouble his home planet is in and, like in the movie The Martian, is determined to solve the problem using science and ingenuity.

Gosling is fantastic in the part, using his natural charm and charisma to play a character who is initially the opposite of the typical handsome, but not-very-bright, leading man.

He’s hilarious, especially in scenes showing Grace’s body slowly recovering – and then trying to navigate life in zero gravity while wearing a spacesuit. These moments let Gosling really showcase his talent for physical comedy.

He’s well-matched by Sandra Hüller, who plays the no-nonsense leader of the Petrova Task Force. Her serious demeanor provides a great contrast to his playful and witty personality in the scenes before they go to space.

Why you’ll fall for Rocky

In Project Hail Mary’s initial trailer, it was shown that Grace unexpectedly gains a sparring partner after a close encounter with an alien – we’ll briefly discuss this here.

The alien looks like a giant spider made of stone, so Grace decides to call him Rocky. A significant part of the movie focuses on the clever and amusing ways they learn to communicate with each other.

The connection between Grace and Rocky is truly the emotional core of the story, which is remarkable considering much of the film involves Ryan Gosling simply having conversations with a rock.

A key difficulty for the film is conveying a lot of information when Grace is isolated for most of the story.

Weir’s novel, along with Drew Goddard’s clever adaptation, delivers information in a unique way. It uses everything from news reports and classroom lessons to personal video diaries and secret government meetings – even having a character explain complex ideas while feeling sick!

Careful planning and attention to detail keep us informed about challenges in space and the complicated science involved, which ultimately proves crucial as Project Hail Mary reaches its exciting climax.

Is Project Hail Mary good?

Okay, so Project Hail Mary? Seriously, this book is amazing. It’s got everything – sci-fi, action, adventure, and even some genuinely funny moments. But it’s not all laughs; there’s some real heart and sadness in there too. It’s a story about a guy who has to be incredibly brave, the amazing friend he makes, and basically, what we’ll do to survive as a species. It just works, and it’s a total page-turner.

At its heart, the story explores the idea of sacrifice – what it costs and what it truly means – and is likely to be very emotionally moving for viewers. However, it’s also a hopeful tale, a theme common in films by directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, which ultimately makes the story even more powerful.

The film is visually stunning, showcasing a beautiful and expansive cosmos best experienced on a large screen. The sound design is excellent, and Daniel Pemberton’s score wonderfully enhances both the funny and emotional moments.

This movie is a genuinely fun and engaging experience – it actually makes science exciting, something my teachers never managed! And it does something else completely unique: it makes you root for a rock.

Project Hail Mary score: 5/5

Project Hail Mary is in select cinemas on March 14 and 15 before going wide on March 19.

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2026-03-10 16:20