Review by Jon Donnis
Project Hail Mary arrives as a rousing interstellar science fiction adventure, with Phil Lord and Christopher Miller pulling out all the stops to deliver something that feels both vast in scale and surprisingly human at its core. From the outset, it is clearly a big budget Hollywood epic, with its ambition and visual scope evident in every frame.
The story follows Ryland Grace, played by Ryan Gosling, who wakes aboard a spacecraft with no memory of who he is or how he got there. As his recollection slowly returns, the film builds its central mystery around a dying sun and a dangerous microorganism known as Astrophage. The unfolding narrative, split between his mission and his past on Earth, gives the film a steady sense of momentum while allowing the science driven elements to take centre stage.
Gosling's performance is a major strength throughout. His self deprecating charm and sharp comic timing bring a welcome lightness to what could have been a far more rigid and technical story. That balance of humour, heart, and suspense is where the film thrives, with his presence carrying the emotional weight and keeping the audience engaged even during its more complex moments.
Visually, the film is staggering in scale. The design embraces a sense of organic construction that helps ground the more outlandish ideas. There is a risk that something this large could overshadow its characters, yet the film manages to hold onto its human element. Even at its most unusual, there is a sense of authenticity that keeps everything consistently engaging.
The unexpected friendship that develops along the way adds another layer, giving the story warmth and a sense of connection that elevates it beyond a straightforward survival narrative. It reinforces the film's central idea that even in the most extreme circumstances, companionship can make the impossible feel achievable.
That said, the film is not without its issues. At times, it feels like it is trying too hard to be a feelgood experience, pushing its emotional beats more than necessary. Its running time of 156 minutes also begins to show, with pacing that can feel slow in places and moments that linger longer than they should.
Even with those drawbacks, Project Hail Mary remains a beautifully strange and monumentally entertaining science fiction epic. It may not be the most original concept, but it is well made, looks impressive, and benefits greatly from a strong central performance.
It earns a very strong 9 out of 10.
Out In Cinemas now
