Project Hail Mary (2026)
It can be hard to find time to take my wife to see a film when we have two small children in the home. It feels like an even harder task to devote two and a half hours of the evening to seeing one. Despite that, we made it a point to see Project Hail Mary opening week.
Like The Martian (2015), Project Hail Mary is based on a sci-fi novel written by Andy Weir, with the screenplay adaptation written by Drew Goddard. The story is about a team of astronauts sent on a one-way flight to Tau Ceti to discover a cure for our dying sun. No, it’s not a film about Catholics praying. Most of the screen time is dedicated to the protagonist, Ryland Grace, portrayed by Ryan Gosling. To be totally honest, I’ll watch anything he’s in. Perhaps it’s not even Gosling’s performances themselves, but his roles have always been a hit with me.
Even though the runtime is on the longer end of things, the film never dragged. Frankly, parts of the film felt rushed, notably the opening and closing. If you read the premise and expect a gritty space journey like Interstellar, you’ve got the wrong impression. The comparisons between the films that I’ve seen online are ill-advised. The vibe of Project Hail Mary is less “philosophical drama” and more “buddy film.” Keep that in mind going in.
For all the doom and gloom the premise of a dying sun brings, Project Hail Mary is surprisingly hopeful. There’s tension in the mission, as failure means the end of our planet. However, Grace is ever optimistic. The tone is refreshing amidst current events in the world. Like The Martian’s Watney, Grace is supremely competent. I never found his competence enough to break the suspension of disbelief, though I raised my eyebrows at how quickly he picked up a foreign language.
Flashbacks to before the space mission are interspersed throughout the film. They break up the “Ryan Gosling in space” sections, and show the context of Grace’s mission. Grace might seem like a persistent optimist, but his flashbacks tell a different story. The nail is driven home at the climax, as Grace makes a decision starkly contrasted with a flashback of who he was before his spacefaring voyage. Maybe I was already in a vulnerable emotional state after a depressing visit to the doctor with my youngest son. Or maybe it’s just that heartfelt moments between buddies in buddy films really get me. Let me know what you think.
While I found Project Hail Mary enjoyable, and the runtime was tight, I daresay it was too tight. The opening felt rushed, although I know the editors figured if they had to cut somewhere, the scenes of the lonely amnesiac astronaut were first on the chopping block. I don’t disagree, but it gave me amnesia, forgetting that Grace himself doesn’t remember the events leading up to the mission. There are some beautiful space moments as well that I wish could have lingered on the screen a little longer. Sadly, letting moments breathe is the weakest point in the film.
Project Hail Mary is an immensely fun space flick. It’s positive, and it hits the bittersweet emotional note that always gets me feeling something. I’m not a sci-fi lover, but I nonetheless found it a compelling film. It’s an easy recommendation. I already know I’ll have to snag a physical copy when it releases, as my wife has already been back to see it at the theater with a friend.
TL;DR: Project Hail Mary is sure to please sci-fi lovers, and anyone who’s, like me, a sucker for a good buddy film. 5/5
