When Phil Lord and Chris Miller departed Solo: A Star Wars Story mid-production in 2017, fans were left wondering: what would a space epic look like through the lens of the duo behind The Lego Movie? After nearly a decade away from live-action directing, Project Hail Mary feels like total vindication.
Pairing Lord and Miller’s comedic timing with Ryan Gosling’s effortless charm, the film is an exciting interstellar adventure. Despite some third-act pacing hiccups, it remains an emotionally resonant journey, largely thanks to the crackling chemistry between Gosling and the most wonderful little “rock person” you’ve ever met.
A Rude Awakening in Deep Space
Waking up from a coma inside a plastic bag with a feeding tube, ZZ Top hair, and total amnesia is a rough start to anyone’s day. Such is the life of Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling), who finds himself aboard the Hail Mary surrounded by dead crewmates and millions of miles of vacuum.
The film expertly uses Grace’s amnesia to fuel a series of flashbacks to Earth. We see his transformation from a disgruntled middle school teacher to humanity’s last hope. His mission? Travel to the star Tau Ceti to stop Astrophage—an extraterrestrial microorganism that is literally eating our Sun. While these jumps back to Earth occasionally slow the momentum, they introduce us to the steely, fascinating Eva Stratt (Sandra Hüller), the woman tasked with saving the world by any means necessary.
Ryan Gosling: The Ego-Free Space Hero
It should come as no surprise that a Lord and Miller project is hilarious. Drew Goddard’s script, based on the bestseller by Andy Weir, maintains the affable snark that made The Martian such a hit.
Gosling is the perfect vessel for this tone. He’s a proven ego-free performer—those who remember his iconic shrieks in The Nice Guys will recognize that same frantic energy here. Whether he’s moaning that “everything is wrong” after a scientific blunder or delivering a heart-wrenching eulogy for crewmates he can’t even remember, Gosling makes Grace’s desperation feel both funny and deeply human.
The Secret Weapon: Meet Rocky
While the plot is about saving stars, the heart of the movie is about making friends. Enter Rocky, an Eridean mechanic and the only surviving member of his own alien crew.
Rocky is brought to life by lead puppeteer James Ortiz, and the decision to use practical puppetry pays off immensely. Rocky is expressive, dynamic, and surprisingly foul-mouthed for someone without a mouth (voiced via computer-translated vocalizations). The “DIY” bond between Grace and Rocky—starting with a hilarious Home Depot supply run in a flashback and ending with deep mutual respect—is the film’s greatest triumph.
Visuals by a Master: Greig Fraser’s Space
If the story is the heart, the visuals are the soul. Cinematographer Greig Fraser (Dune, The Batman) brings a rich, tactile texture to the Hail Mary. Fraser uses light—specifically the infrared glow of the Astrophage—to create frames with incredible depth. When the ship finally reaches its destination, the visuals hit a spectacular apex, blending majestic beauty with the “terrible danger” of a dying solar system.
The Third Act Stumble
At 156 minutes, the film does feel its length. The structural reliance on flashbacks begins to lose its luster in the final hour. While the Earth-bound scenes with Sandra Hüller are strong, they sometimes feel like they’re tying up plot threads that have lost their urgency compared to the life-or-death stakes in the present day. This leads to a finale that, while emotionally satisfying, feels slightly anticlimactic after the high-octane setup.
The Verdict
Thrilling, heartfelt, and genuinely funny, Project Hail Mary is a rollicking sci-fi blockbuster that reminds us why we go to the movies. Lord and Miller have faithfully adapted Andy Weir’s celebration of science and teamwork, bolstered by a career-best “everyman” performance from Ryan Gosling. It’s a memorable reminder of how much we can accomplish when we stop fighting and start problem-solving together.
Final Score: 8.5/10 Stars
What did you think? Did the puppet version of Rocky live up to the version in your head while reading the book? Let us know in the comments below!
