JacobsonCinemas

Project Hail Mary is about a middle school science teacher named Ryland Grace who is forced to join a space mission to save their sun from dying. When he wakes up in space, he finds that he has suffered amnesia and that he’s the only crewmember to survive. Later he comes across another spaceship being fun by an alien named Rocky. Much like Grace, Rocky is also the sole survivor of his crew and trying to save his sun. Both decide to work together to help each other save their suns.

The thing that surprised me when I saw this was how funny this film. The book this film was based on was written by Andy Weir who also wrote the Martian. Much like the film adaption of the Martian this film has the perfect balance between humor and heart.  What helps is the amazing performance from Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace. His performance balance being both hilarious and emotional. You really feel for him since he was forced to do this mission against his will and. I also really liked his alien partner Rocky. He has such a unique alien design and makes him standout from aliens in different films. Both these characters work off each other very well and their friendship is the heart of the film.

The visual effects in Project Hail Mary are absolutely amazing and so far, this film is my contender for winning Best Visual Effects at next year’s Oscars. I was actually lucky enough to see this in 70mm one week before this film released and the format really makes you feel the weight and scale of being in space. It’s kind of like watching a modern version of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001 A Space Odyssey. What’s also great is that this film uses a lot of practical effects instead of mostly CGI or green screens like other science fiction film.

I will admit my major complaint about this film is that the third half really drags. SPOILER WARNING: Ryland and Rocky manage to receive the organism that would help their suns and then go their separate ways. That would’ve been a good and serviceable place to end the film. Yet the film keeps going when the orgasm escapes which Ryland fixes but realizes that Rocky is in trouble and has to go save him. I know not every film has to be short but they should I least have good pacing throughout the runtime, and the third half of this film does not.

Hard to believe that the directors of this film also created and directed Clone High, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and the Lego Movie. Watching Project Hail Mary in 70mm was one of the best movie going experiences I had this year so far.

Verdict:

+Ryan Gosling as Ryland Grace

+Rocky

+The comedy

+Visual effects

-Long third half

Score: A