“Project Hail Mary” Is A Hopeful Sci-Fi Blockbuster By Audrey Ruppert Film Critic

Whenever I mention the incredible Thai cave rescue operation of 2018, it always frustrates me to hear the inevitable response from the average person: a recollection of Elon Musk throwing a tantrum and calling one of the rescuers a criminal. It is in our nature to focus on the negatives in a world that is so chaotic, divisive and plain stupid at times, but we have to remember that humans are capable of incredible things when they work together. To rescue a children’s soccer team trapped inside a water-logged cave, the Thai government acted sensibly, the United States provided operational support, local farmers sacrificed their crop, water engineers redirected millions of gallons of water, an international team of cave divers assembled, and volunteers fed and housed everyone in the effort. Thousands of people came together, including one man who fulfilled the archetypal hero’s journey to the letter: an Australian anesthetist and cave diver, the only person on the entire planet who had the skills necessary to perform the rescue. All 12 children and their coach survived. It is these incredible stories that we need to hear in dark times; it was aptly recounted in “Thirteen Lives,” the critically acclaimed film by Ron Howard.

“Project Hail Mary,” the adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel of the same name, is this exact sort of uplifting story. We’ve seen a few in this vein before, of people from all walks of life coming together and using the scientific method to solve a problem and save lives; Ron Howard directed “Apollo 13,” a true story, and Andy Weir also brought us a fictional account in “The Martian.” While in the same lineage, “Project Hail Mary” takes this concept to the next level.

The story follows Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling), a disgraced molecular biologist turned middle school teacher who is enlisted by a multi-national organization to combat a problem that threatens to destroy all life on Earth. Like the cave diving anesthetist, he is the only person on Earth fit for the job, so he must rise to the occasion despite his numerous reservations. He befriends an alien from another solar system who is facing the same threat in his world, and together they attempt to save their respective species through careful reasoning, mutual cooperation, and a genuine care for each other.

This film is simply a delight; there’s no other way to put it. The director duo, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, have a great track record with humor (“21 Jump Street”) and visual creativity (“The LEGO Movie,” “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”). “Project Hail Mary” is both of these things, as well as incredibly touching. The extensive use of practical effects is obvious, with CGI supporting the story rather than dominating the screen.

The chemistry between Ryan Gosling and a faceless alien made of stone is something to behold — and I have no doubt part of that was due to the alien being a human-controlled puppet, rather than graphically generated. The score was also notable and genuinely made me question whether Harry Styles’ “Sign of the Times” was written just for this film, even though I objectively knew that wasn’t the case. While most of the acting takes place between Ryan Gosling and a prop, there was strong support from Sandra Hüller and a few other actors. Despite the runtime of two hours and 36 minutes, the film never lags and is very well paced.

The world-building is also meticulously thought out. So often, aliens in cinema are just humans with face paint or prosthetics. Even franchises like “Avatar,” which bother to introduce different atmospheres and anatomies to their alien worlds, still resemble something that is familiar to the human eye. Weir has truly created something alien.

While much of this world-building isn’t explained in detail (the book and interviews with the author give much more insight), Weir’s attention to detail shines through in the film adaptation. Yes, there are some science mistakes that even an uneducated eye like mine could spot. Nonetheless, I could forgive it because largely, the suspension of disbelief is well maintained and things like a centrifuge being unbalanced really don’t detract from the overall message of the story.

Thematically, it is well composed; we are asked what it means to have no one to live for, and conversely, what it means to sacrifice everything for those we love and care for. Most importantly, we are reminded what we are capable of if we put our differences aside, employ empathy, and engage in rational problem-solving.

“Project Hail Mary” looks good, sounds good, and feels good. What else can you ask for? I recommend seeing this one in cinemas, not just because it is beautiful on the big screen but also because we truly need to back quality, original blockbuster films on the rare occasion they are given to us. If you’re sick of the same five franchises being revived 1,000 times every summer, support unique and well-produced projects like “Project Hail Mary.”