- Rating: 4.5/5 stars
- Verdict: "Project Hail Mary" is incredible. The choice to use practical effects pays off not only visually, but also allows Ryan Gosling to act against something real rather than a tennis ball on a stick. That produces a star performance that is a must-see in theaters. Just be ready to laugh a lot.
- Where to watch: "Project: Hail Mary" premieres in theaters on March 20
"Project Hail Mary" was one of my most anticipated movies of 2026, but I would be lying if I wasn't a bit nervous. The recipe for success was there: Andy Weir wrote the beloved novel that serves as the source material for the film, and "The Martian" screenwriter Drew Goddard was adapting it. Add in the charming Ryan Gosling starring alongside the Oscar-nominated Sandra Hüller (and a cute rock puppet) and have acclaimed directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller running the whole thing, and it seemed impossible for this movie to fail ... which, as a cynic, signaled to me that surely this would end badly.But it didn't fail at all. In fact, "Project Hail Mary" is about as good as it could be. I'll admit I've never read the book or listened to the audiobook. which has a cult following of its own, so perhaps there are adaptive choices that will bother some moviegoers. My wife, who went with me, has listened to the audiobook and she informed me that while some stuff must have been left on the cutting room floor, there's nothing major that will have fans tearing their hair out in anger.
Having watched it now, there are three main reasons this movie succeeds. First, the choice to use no greenscreens and as few digital effects as possible pays off immensely. In particular, using a puppet for Gosling to act against rather than a CGI creation was a brilliant decision. I can't claim to be in the mind of the four-time "Saturday Night Live" host, but there's real chemistry between Gosling's character, a scientist-turned astronaut known mostly as Grace, and the rock puppet he cleverly names ... Rocky. I have to imagine some of that chemistry comes from Gosling having a partner to act against, even if that partner is only a puppet.This leads me to the second reason this movie works: Gosling is perfect casting. This movie is built on charm and comedy; there are dark moments, but it's not a tragedy. Gosling is able to bring both the charm and the humor in equal measure, while still showing range when other emotions are required.Finally, this movie works because it's so much like "The Martian."
'Project Hail Mary' feels a lot like 'The Martian' but never like a rip-off
For the record, "Project Hail Mary" should be like "The Martian." It's based on an Andy Weir novel, and he's not known for deviating from his writing style. Both stories have drama but are comedic at their core (more so "Project Hail Mary"). Both largely center around the main character, and both feature dual storylines that come together at the end. Unlike in "The Martian," in this movie, the storylines aren't concurrent. In the present, we're with Grace and Rocky as they try to solve why an alien dubbed "Astrophage" is killing nearly every sun in the galaxy. In the past, we're learning how Grace ended up as a part of the Project Hail Mary and why he's now in space despite being a school teacher with a biology degree. We're also learning this alongside Grace, who has lost much of his memories after coming out of a medically induced coma required for long-distance space travel.This is where "Project Hail Mary" separates itself from its predecessor. "The Martian" is very much a movie that wants to get you from Point A to Point B. Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is stranded on Mars and needs to be rescued. The journey we take there is entertaining and enthralling, but it's relatively simple when you boil it down to the basics.In this latest Weir adaptation, though, the journey that drives the movie isn't the quest to save the world. It's the journey Grace makes as a character, emotionally, that makes the story so satisfying and ties it all together. Watching Grace learn the person he was, how it contrasts with the person he is sans memories and how ultimately his experiences with Rocky allow him to redefine his character is a fulfilling journey more complex than what "The Martian" offers.
Verdict: 'Project Hail Mary' is a must-see in theaters
Much like with "Sinners" last year, "Project Hail Mary" is a movie I might regret not giving a perfect score. There are very few flaws that I can point to with this movie. I'd maybe make tiny cuts, but there's no glaring scene that should have been removed from the film. You also definitely have to commit to this movie's more fantastical elements; don't question the science in this science fiction.Ultimately, as much as I loved this movie, I felt like it lacked a true "whoa" moment, like the climactic scene of "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple," where Ralph Fiennes cosplays as Satan to "Number of the Beast" by Iron Maiden. That's a more flawed movie than this one is, but that moment is more memorable than any moment from "Project Hail Mary."Still, don't read what I'm not writing: This movie is incredible. I may have quibbles, but it's undoubtedly a must-watch and I'd recommend it to anyone and everyone. I'd also recommend seeing it in theaters, the way it's meant to be seen, if at all possible. Shot with IMAX cameras, you won't want to miss the spectacle."Project Hail Mary" opens in theaters on March 20
