Movie Review: Project Hail Mary (2026)

“I was sent to save the world… I just didn’t expect to do it completely alone.”

Directors: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller    Screenplay: Drew Goddard

Starring: Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace, Sandra Hüller as Eva Stratt, James Ortiz as Rocky (voice/puppetry) Ken Leung, Lionel Boyce, Milana Vayntrub, Priya Kansara, and others

When we look at the plot , the Hail Mary set up may came over as a bit dry and unrelatable. Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling), a middle-school science teacher and former molecular biologist, wakes up alone on a spacecraft light-year from Earth with no memory of how he got there. As his memories gradually return, he learns the truth and , man , it is serious…

 The sun is being damaged by a mysterious microorganism called “astrophage”, which threatens global extinction. He was recruited into a last-chance international mission called Project Hail Mary to find a solution. An international agency sends him (unwillingly) to a distant star system to investigate the problem and save humanity. While stranded in deep space, Grace slowly pieces together both his mission and his past—and ultimately forms an unexpected friendship with an alien being named Rocky, which becomes crucial to survival and solving the crisis. 

All of this is very slickly done with flashbacks galore – it also borrows themes / tropes and ideas freely from other Sci Fi space epics both recent and historic. The friendship and emotional bond that Grace forms with Rocky has echoes of ET, and there are shades of Interstellar ,The Martian  and Arrival regarding the awesomeness of space and themes of isolation and resilience. So far, so standard Hollywood sci Fi fare yet there are lovely elements that raise this above the average.

Central to this success is Gosling’s performance , who shows a softer more vulnerable and likeable side than in some of his hard man roles. We identify with his hopelessness and desperation in an almost impossible situation because of his charm and sense of humour- especially choice comedy moments with him and Rocky. His charisma manages to gloss over the absurd premise well. 

 Special mention to Sandra Hüller as science Bod Eva Stratt – she is one of the most acclaimed European actresses working today, especially known for intense, psychologically rich performances i.e. Anatomy of a Fall (2023).  What a great choice she is as the boss who must charm , threaten and ,in the end, coerce Grace to join the suicide mission to save Earth – the exchanges between the two are gold dust ( and look out for the karaoke scene).  

How has it gone down with the critics?  In the US , the Los Angeles Times (Amy Nicholson) said that it was “Wholesome science fiction that satisfies like a jumbo serving of apple pie and milk, delivering comfort, humour and spectacle in equal measure.” While the New York Post opined that it was “A vibrant and heartfelt sci-fi adventure that balances big-budget spectacle with an unexpectedly tender emotional core, anchored by Ryan Gosling’s charm.”

 In the UK , Sight & Sound (BFI) said that it was “A shameless crowd-pleaser, buoyed by infectious optimism and a surprisingly gentle humour, though it occasionally leans too heavily into sentimentality.” While Time Out London (Phil de Semlyen) chipped in with “Ryan Gosling soars in a space epic with a heart of gold, bringing warmth and wit to a film that thrives on its unlikely interstellar friendship.”   

At 156 minutes it takes something special to hold the attention for that long and there are lulls and some mundane bits. Yet the strong performances , the universality of the themes and propulsion of the story makes the time go in an entertaining way. The humour, warmth and tone of the story married to the spectacle wins the day, almost taking it to a 10/10. Just as space is a big place then there always seems to be “space” in our hearts  for another Sci Fi epic – if it’s done well, we will take it again and again.

Score 9/10.