It’s hard not to relate to Andy Weir’s premise Hail Mary Project instantly compelling: something is slowly killing the sun and threatening life on Earth. This same mysterious force, nicknamed the Astrophage, also destroyed all but one of the nearby stars. Our only hope is to visit this solar system and find out what helped it survive. And there’s only one middle school science teacher who can do it.
At its core is Weir’s love of solving technical problems, plus a terrific performance from Ryan Gosling in full nerd hero mode as the aforementioned science professor (and former molecular biologist). It’s the kind of large-scale science fiction epic that will prepare an entire generation of children to study humanity’s future problems. And maybe it will remind distraught adults that we gain much more by working together to solve the world’s problems, instead of focusing only on our own interests.
The film begins with Gosling’s character, Ryland Grace, waking up from an induced coma with no memory. He is shocked to find that he is light years from Earth and that the other two members of his crew are already dead. As he gets his bearings, he remembers that he was sent on a last-ditch mission, Project Hail Mary, to save the sun and everyone on Earth. No pressure! These opening moments make it clear that screenwriter Drew Goddard (who also adapted The Martian), as well as directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, know how to skillfully juggle comedy and the drama inherent in the story.
There is something truly moving about the mission. About 30 years before the planet faced a global cooling event likely to end in mass famine, Earth’s major political powers put aside their differences and put their best scientific minds to work on a solution. You can really take your pick from real-world parallels, like the looming climate crisis or the growing threat of nuclear war. Just seeing the world working together feels meaningful in these dark times. And unlike other space disaster movies like Armageddon And Interstellarcooperation, rather than NASA alone, is the only way forward.
Sure, humanity’s hope for survival ultimately rests on the shoulders of one of the most attractive white men on the planet (or in this case, off it), but you know, movies. It’s also no spoiler to say that Grace isn’t entirely alone on her journey. As the film’s trailers and a ton of clips on social media have already revealed, he’s also joined by a crab-like being made of rock, who he simply calls Rocky. They eventually learn to communicate and it is revealed that Rocky is also on a mission to save their own planet.
While we get brief glimpses of life on Earth and the planning of the Hail Mary Project, for the vast majority of the film we are left with Grace imagining things with a rock alien. And yet, the film never drags. This is a testament to Gosling’s inherent charm, but he also demonstrates an incredible ability to go from joy and awkwardness to pure terror to leading man heroism on a dime. It’s also hard to take your eyes off Rocky, who is rendered with an affectionate blend of practical puppetry and CG. We’ve never seen a creature like this before – one that, despite having no eyes or mouth, manages to connect with viewers primarily through its very expressive arms.
Hail Mary Project is ultimately a work of pulp science fiction told by an author who loves deeply nerdy technical solutions, and by a writer and directors who know precisely what makes a great blockbuster work. But the idea that humanity can come together to achieve the impossible always touches my heart a little. And yes, there is the power of friendshipAlso. At a time when things seem particularly bleak, these ideas seem particularly meaningful.
This article was originally published on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/project-hail-mary-could-teach-humanity-a-thing-or-two-154327806.html?src=rss
