By Randal C. Hill
“Project Hail Mary” stars A-lister Ryan Gosling (“Barbie,” “La La Land”) in the role of Ryland Grace. This nearly three-hour-long, budget-busting release is based on the best-selling 2025 book of the same name by sci-fi savant Andy Weir.
In the opening scenes of jaw-dropping CGI, Gosling comes to us as a wise-cracking sixth-grade science teacher who awakens from a long sleep in an interstellar spacecraft—only to find himself far from home, with no memory of himself or his mission but with the fate of humanity resting squarely on his shoulders. He’s on his way to Tau Ceti, a solar system that may (repeat, may) offer a solution.
The sun is dying, which of course will spell the end of life on our planet. Grace is told that he’s been selected for a project designed to save Earth. He’s understandably overwhelmed by this responsibility and had earlier vehemently protested that he’s out of his depth here: “Some people are not good at things!” he has insisted. “I put the ‘not’ in astronaut.” Then, with a wink to the legacy of Michael Jackson, proclaims, “I can’t even moonwalk!” (Did we mention that Weir has a sense of humor?)
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Grace’s words have fallen on deaf ears in the scientific community. “You have a doctorate in microbiology,” Eva Stratt (Sandra Huller), the head of the Hail Mary Project, tells him. “You’re the only scientist who might know what to do…You’ll figure it out.”
With Ryland eventually hooking up in partnership with an alien he calls Rocky—who resembles a giant arachnid—”Project Hail Mary” could be considered akin to a buddy/action tale about two beings from different planets teaming up to save their respective worlds. Broadway icon James Ortiz eerily voices the character of Rocky.
“Project Hail Mary” is directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (The “Jump Street” movies, “The Lego Movie”), with a screenplay by Drew Goddard (“The Martian,” “World War Z”). The feature is produced by a seven-member team that includes Weir and Gosling.
“Project Hail Mary” from MGM/Pascal Pictures, launches nationally on March 20.
Mark your calendars for this one!
