Movie Review: ‘Project Hail Mary’

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Review by James Lindorf

Do not watch the trailer for “Project Hail Mary.” If you have any interest in seeing this film, the best thing you can do for yourself is not give them the YouTube view. This is the long-awaited second adaptation of an Andy Weir novel, following the adaptation of his debut book, “The Martian,” which grossed over $600 million at the box office. “Artemis,” his second project, has been in delayed production since 2018, with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller long attached to direct. However, their excitement for “Project Hail Mary” couldn’t be denied, and Amazon MGM Studios will deliver it to the world on March 20th.

Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up on a spaceship light-years from home, an amazing moment for any astronaut. The only problem is that Grace is not an astronaut; he is a “rebel” scientist turned science teacher with no idea how he got on the ship and the barest recollection of who he is. Oh, and he’s all alone. As his memory returns, he begins to uncover his mission: to solve the riddle of the mysterious substance that is causing the sun to die out. He must call on his scientific knowledge and unorthodox ideas if he wants to save everything on Earth from extinction. An unexpected ally may be the key to completing his mission and ending his isolation.

Gosling is a talented actor who consistently brings tons of charisma to his roles. The confusion, fear, and joy that Grace experiences, Gosling delivers with relative ease; the intelligence is another matter. It is a mix of his performance and Drew Goddard’s adaptation of the Weir novel that makes him unbelievable as the singular genius who can save the galaxy. As presented, it would make more sense if Grace were an engineer or custodian forced into being a research scientist during the years-long trip. He is so smart and charismatic that he instantly knows how to explain things in a way anyone can understand. Which just isn’t realistic for someone that intelligent, breaking ground on a brand-new science under intense pressure. When science is going to be used to save the planet, you don’t necessarily expect the physical aspect to be the most difficult. Grace rarely makes a false step in his research, and even though he is very physically fit, not much can prepare you for years in space and solo spacewalks.

While Grace is an inconsistent character, his counterpart Rocky (James Ortiz) is perfect. Ortiz is not a household name among movie fans, but the multi-hyphenate is a writer, director, actor, designer, and puppeteer better known for his expansive stage work. While it is easy to identify with Grace for obvious reasons, it is Rocky that is the comedic and emotional core of the film. His emotional journey, his support, and his unbridled joy on top of their banter and chemistry give life to a cinematically beautiful film that could easily fall flat.

Yo Rocky, you did it!. Well, you, Gosling, Lord, Miller, and cinematographer Greg Fraser (The Batman; Dune) did it. “Project Hail Mary” is a nearly perfect film with a final score of 4.25 out of 5. It is gorgeous, hits all the emotional notes, and makes you laugh while maintaining tension. What it really needed was a Michael Crichton-esque tweak to Grace’s character, and another take on a scene in the climax where Gosling forgot to bring emotion into his eyes, as well as the physical part of his performance.

Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure
Rating: PG-13 (Suggestive References|Some Thematic Material)
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theatrical): March 20th, 2026
Runtime: 2h 36m
Director: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
Producer: Amy Pascal, Ryan Gosling, Phil Lord, Christopher Miller, Aditya Sood, Rachel O’Connor, Andy Weir
Screenwriter: Drew Goddard
Distributor: Amazon MGM Studios
Production Co: Pascal Pictures, General Admission, Waypoint Entertainment, Lord Miller