Project Hail Mary Needs About 39 Percent Fewer Jokes

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Project Hail Mary is an enjoyable, though somewhat puzzling, movie. It’s a large-scale science fiction adventure about a desperate effort to save Earth, and it often feels like a very eager-to-please comedy. This makes sense, considering the directors, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller – known for the hilarious 21 Jump Street films, the clever LEGO Movie, and the excellent animated Spider-Verse movies – are masters of comedy. However, the humor sometimes feels like a way to avoid the serious, dark themes of the story. While there are genuinely funny moments mixed with some that fall flat, you occasionally wish the film would just focus on the plot. That’s because beneath the comedic bits, there’s a compelling and exciting story that stands on its own, without needing extra silliness.

Ryan Gosling stars as Dr. Ryland Grace, a former scientist who now teaches middle school. He’s unexpectedly called upon to solve a major crisis: strange organisms called Astrophage are eating the sun and endangering all life on Earth. The movie begins with Grace waking up from a long coma on a spaceship, far from Earth, with no memory of who he is or why he’s there. Through flashbacks, we learn how he became involved in a global effort to stop the Astrophage, how scientists discovered the organisms could potentially be used as fuel, and how they identified a distant star seemingly unaffected by them. This leads to a daring, one-way mission to investigate the star and uncover its secret, led by the determined Eva Stratt (played by Sandra Hüller).

As Grace bluntly asks Stratt, “You want to build a spaceship to travel further than anyone ever has, just to see what’s out there?” Moments like these – where straightforward explanations are mixed with witty dialogue – sometimes feel out of place, weakening the film’s thoughtful and genuine moments with forced, overly-clever humor. Grace’s growing understanding of the danger he’s in should be captivating, and the realization that this is a one-way trip should be deeply unsettling, both for him and the audience. Focusing more on these heavier themes would not only feel more authentic, but also likely strengthen the story’s later events. Instead, these serious ideas are quickly brushed aside for another joke, giving the impression that the movie is hesitant to fully embrace its own weight.

The film is based on Andy Weir’s 2021 novel of the same name, and it largely captures the book’s witty and informal style. It’s a very faithful adaptation, but the movie had to find a way to show what the book conveyed through the main character’s inner thoughts. This means a lot of Grace’s funny, confused thinking is turned into dialogue, which sometimes feels forced and overly eager to get a laugh. This is a bit strange, considering Ryan Gosling is naturally very funny. He used to be known for playing brooding characters, but now he has a charmingly goofy and deadpan appeal. In a way, Project Hail Mary feels like Gosling is trying to balance his roles as an action star, a serious actor, and a comedian – something he did brilliantly in 2024’s The Fall Guy. We believe him as the initially clumsy and unprepared Grace, but the script gives him too much to say. He ends up feeling like the most talkative person facing the end of the world, and sometimes you just wish he’d be quiet.

Despite its flaws, the movie captures the grand scale and sense of discovery found in the original book. Weir’s story is packed with fascinating ideas about science – evolution, biology, and more – and feels like a lively lesson from a beloved teacher. A key strength is how the film portrays the alien landscapes as truly unlike anything humans have ever experienced. The visuals, bursting with color and unique patterns, effectively create a feeling that anything is possible in deep space. When Grace meets an alien spaceship (as shown in the trailer), it’s a stunning display of light and form. The alien itself, nicknamed Rocky, is a fascinating creature – a spider-like, stone being about the size of a Labrador – offering a thought-provoking glimpse of how life might evolve on another planet. However, the film leans heavily into cuteness, giving Rocky a surprisingly high-pitched voice (performed by James Ortiz, who also puppeteered the creature). This makes Rocky feel more like an intelligent pet than a truly alien being. While these choices are understandable, they contribute to a somewhat overly sweet tone. It makes you wonder if an animated version might have avoided this issue.

Project Hail Mary is a bit of a mixed bag – funny at times, occasionally frustrating, and ultimately too lengthy. It shifts back and forth between interesting scientific ideas and overly simplistic explanations. While it tugs at your emotions in predictable ways, it doesn’t really offer anything fresh or challenging. Authors Lord and Miller are known for cleverly subverting expectations, but this story feels less about playful rebellion and more about a straightforward, almost childish approach. Essentially, it’s a film geared towards children disguised as a lengthy sci-fi adventure. It prioritizes heartwarming moments over genuine awe, and it achieves this goal, for better or worse.

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2026-03-19 14:54