PROJECT HAIL MARY

Good Sci-films are hard to come by these days, especially when that film is 2 hours and 40 minutes with predominately just one actor the entire time.  Granted that actor happens to be Ryan Gosling and said actor does have a rock-looking spider alien as a companion so technically he’s not entirely alone, but this is pretty close to a one-man-band act and despite that risk, Project Hail Mary excels giving the viewer moments of danger, spectacle and heart at the center of this journey and a front row seat to a genuine feel-good classic.

The film, directed by the duo of Phil Lord, Christopher Miller (Lego Movie) rushes on screen as a dazed and amnesic Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up from hyper sleep, millions of light years away from Earth. 

Not knowing who he is or why he’s there he discovers the rest of his crew is dead, and he somehow needs to address the mechanical breakdown of the ship, learning in the midst of ciaos and alarms that he knows all the mechanical workings of the ship but doesn’t know why, “Am I Smart?!”

After weeks alone the memory starts to come and we’re given flashback scenes as to what happened to sparks this journey.  An alien life force (astrophage) that travels throughout the galaxy feeding on stars, including our sun, slowly killing it, like a beetle chewing through pine trees.  Essentially it’s placing a ticking time bomb on mankind and Earth as we know it.

Grace is a renowned molecular biologist who became blackballed by some of his scientific views, and now a junior high science teacher.  He is recruited in this mission because of those views and asked to experiment on samples of the alien and then figure the best way to destroy it. 

Turns out this bacteria of sorts, has been feasting on many stars, throughout the galaxy… except one. Tau Ceti, but why? That planet is the key to figuring out how to combat this alien force and save the world. 

Grace is not a hero in anyway but is somehow placed on this voyage, a one-way suicide mission to save the world.

Upon finally reaching Tau Ceti, he notices something very peculiar.  Another ship in the distance, an alien vessel far bigger than his tiny shuttle.  After failing to outrun it, Grace realizes it’s trying to communicate with him, eventually coming to the understanding that they have the same mission. To save their planets from the Astrophage.   

And here is where the total Ryan Gosling charm takes effect.  Stranded for who knows how long with an alien that he names Rocky, due to it’s rock-like features, the two develop a communication and comedic dialogue at times, akin to an odd couple shtick.

The two develop a strong emotional bond, like a human and a dog if only that dog was far more sophisticated in science, math and communication. 

They’re all alone but they have each other and with the slightest touch Lord and Miller turn this alien/doomsday film into one of hope and love for both each other and the people back home depending on them.

I can’t say enough how great Gosling nailed this part and keeping the audience interested and entertained through his nerdy personality, relationship with Rocky (predominately an in scene puppet with CGI enhancements) and willingness to be the hero that that both of them need, to serve their mission and acquire the foreign elements from Tau Ceti to send back to each others planets.

Like every good sci-fi film there’s good drama towards the end but the beauty of directors Lord and Miller is building the Grace and Rocky relationship in a world of zero-g and isolation, while weaving in the exposition parts needed for maxim impact (which is how the Peter Weir book the movie is based on had it).

You feel for them in this world, the torment of isolation and the burdens of a world counting on them and that’s where the message of this film is felt, through hope, courage and faith.  The true beauty of humanity is revealed in this wonderful and needed feel-good story that is worth watching, sending the early year box office into warp speed.