(WWJ) -- Project Hail Mary is directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and stars Ryan Gosling and Sandra Hüller. Based on the 2021 novel written by Andy Weir, Gosling portrays Dr. Ryland Grace, a middle school science teacher recruited to help save our solar system's dying sun only to find himself on the space mission to another world.
We see through early flashbacks that Grace was brought onto the project by Eva Stratt (Hüller) to study a sample from space that ends up being made up of single-celled organisms that consume the electromagnetic radiation of the sun, naming it "Astrophage".
Back in the present, Grace avoids isolation in deep space after meeting Rocky; a fellow traveler also looking for a way to save his solar system's sun. The two form a strong bond working together to find a way to not only save their homes -- but to return.
Gosling's charm and wit are on full display in this vast space epic featuring two unlikely acquaintances. The visuals coupled with Gosling's performance are enough to make this film worthy of seeing on the big screen. Lord and Miller, who previously directed two Spider-verse films and The Lego Movie, are equally adept at directing live action as they are the family-centric, live-action films.
There are only a handful of characters we are introduced to but the effective script (penned by Drew Goddard) allows us to really get to know them in a personal way. The relationship between Grace and Rocky is beautifully fleshed out and feels real.
There are a few instances where the humor undercuts the gravity and seriousness of the situations Grace and Rocky find themselves in. However, those moments are few and far between and are more of a nitpick than anything.
Although Project Hail Mary doesn't quite reach the heights of spiritual predecessors such as Interstellar and The Martian, Lord and Miller still bring their signature whimsy to this heartfelt adventure about loss, isolation, and finding our meaning in the universe.
I'm giving it 4 out of 5 stars.