I consider this project a success.
Project Hail Mary follows Ryland Grace, played by Ryan Gosling, as he wakes up in space after being in a coma, trying to figure out who he is and why he’s there. Eventually, he realizes he is there on a mission to save Earth. There are these things eating the sun, and he was sent on a last-ditch effort to save the Earth.
Based on the initial plot synopsis, I was expecting this movie to be a drama, and although it can be serious. There are also a lot of light-hearted moments that gave me a good laugh. Something this movie also does is treat you like you’re smart. Sometimes it just throws a lot of science at you, but I feel like the way that they do it, you’re able to quickly pick it up, and it makes you feel good for doing so.
Of course, the best part of the movie is the character that Ryland meets in space. Ryland lovingly names him Rocky, and it is so interesting to see their relationship. A human lost in space and an alien sent to this spot for the same reason. They eventually team up and try to save both their plants. By the end of this movie, I would die for Rocky. He was such a great character, and having both of them up on screen was such a treat.
I also appreciated that most of the movie was practical effects. This includes the alien that was a puppet, as well as the space scenes that were done with lights. It helped keep the movie grounded, and I think it led to better performances from the actors.
This movie makes you think about some interesting situations, like would you sacrifice yourself for the world? How would you react to first alien contact? And could you be a hero?
Overall, I think this is one of the best movies so far this year and would highly recommend checking it out. If you want to see more, check out the trailer below.
-Jared Gomes
