Adding to the extensive list of film adaptations for the year, Project Hail Mary has arrived to the satisfaction of cinephiles and bibliophiles alike. I, for one, have grown tired of book adaptations. But if you’re going to see one, Project Hail Mary is it.
As the title suggests, a “Hail Mary” is a plan with little chance of success. We often hear it in sports when a team is in a desperate situation and has little probability of winning a competition. In the film, the people of Earth have been catapulted into an apocalyptic scenario. A foreign substance called Astrophage threatens to destroy the planet, as it has already destroyed a large swath of the galaxy. It’s a microscopic, alien organism that breeds on the surface of the Sun. Its conversion of energy into mass starts causing the Sun to dim, and threatens a global ice age and mass starvation on Earth. There’s only one person on the entire planet that can save them, and that’s Ken… Ahem, Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling).
Ryan Gosling was great. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts about that. The question about this film, from now until next awards season, will be whether he was too silly. Because honestly, had the film not been so childish in various areas, this would’ve been a seriously good movie. But if a film is “too” serious, would Ryan Gosling really shine? A big part of his magnetism is how unserious he can be.
Ryan Gosling plays Ryland Grace, a science teacher who wakes up on a spaceship far from Earth with no recollection of who he is or why he’s in space. Through a combination of flashbacks, we learn how and why he was chosen for the seemingly impossible mission and how he ended up alone.
Just as Gosling’s performance would veer off into stellar territory, his “Ken” personality would show and realign the tone of the film. In other words, it’s not a serious film. His performance was impressive, regardless of the silly and often campy lines of dialogue. In this case, it’s acceptable because his character in the book gives a long monologue. With that in mind, who doesn’t have silly thoughts to themselves?
Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the film stars Ryan Gosling, Sandra Hüller, James Ortiz, Lionel Boyce, Ken Leung, Milana Vayntrub, and Priya Kansara.
The film is an all-around win. The score is excellent, the visuals are breathtaking, and Gosling’s performance, alongside Rocky (James Ortiz), is emotionally comparable to Tom Hanks and Wilson. It’s a movie that could’ve been made 40 minutes shorter, but according to purists (those who read the book), it should’ve (and could’ve) been even longer.
Project Hail Mary gets a 9 out of 10. There are far too many transitions and entire scenes in total silence. For those who don’t have the book as a bolt of energy and influence, that 2hr+ runtime is noticeable. Be sure to be alert and aware when you see the film, and it’s worth the extra money for the IMAX experience.
Project Hail Mary lands in theatres on March 20
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios
Genre: Sci-fi
Rating: PG-13
Runtime: 2 hrs 37 minutes
Trailer:Watch
U.S. Release Date: March 20, 2026