Project Hail Mary Delivers The Most Satisfying Ending In Recent Memory, The Ultimate Popcorn Flick

By Chris Sawin
| Updated 2 seconds ago

A man (Ryan Gosling) wakes up on a spaceship as the only survivor of three. He initially has no memory of who he is, what his mission is, or how far he is from Earth. Through pictures, digging through personal items, and a lot of vodka, the man begins to remember that he is a middle school science teacher named Ryland Grace.

Grace was also a molecular biologist before he was a teacher. He was hired by the government to study Astrophage, a microorganism discovered on the sun’s surface. The Astrophage is beginning to dim the sun, and in 30 years could result in global cooling and the death of much of Earth’s population.

A Journey To Save The World

The Astrophage is infecting all other stars close to the sun except for one, Tau Ceti. A three-person team of scientists is sent into space, on a journey 11.5 light-years away, to investigate and hopefully save mankind. The catch is that there’s no way home and that everyone involved knows that this is a suicide mission. That plan is named Project Hail Mary.

Project Hail Mary is based on the 2021 novel of the same name by Andy Weir, author of The Martian. The film’s script is written by Drew Goddard (The Cabin in the Woods, Bad Times at the El Royale) and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (The Lego Movie and Spider-Verse franchises).

The sci-fi adventure film has a budget of nearly $200 million, so it’s visually gorgeous. What makes it special, though, is the relationship between Grace and his alien bro Rocky.

Project Hail Mary Is A Bump-Fisting Buddy Movie

Once Grace reaches Tau Ceti, he meets up with an alien spacecraft. Through dancing, jazz hands, fist bumps, and Grace learning that Rocky communicates via echolocation and musical tones, he creates a translation device to help them communicate. Grace names Rocky himself after his rock-like appearance.

Ryland Grace has been lost his entire life. He was once a respected scientist, but now teaches at a junior high. He is single with no pets or immediate family, and he doesn’t commit to anything. He hides behind jokes and sarcastic charm. Rocky is a mechanic and also the sole survivor on his spacecraft. He and his now-dead crew came from the planet Eridian, and Rocky was also sent to try to save his sun.

After years of isolation, Grace and Rocky originally bond over the fact that they no longer have to be alone. They also enjoy each other’s company and agree to work together.

What’s interesting is that Grace, as a character, grows solely through his interactions with Rocky. The decisions he makes in the second half of the film can only happen through his growth as a person. Rocky sticks to Grace like glue from the moment they meet, but you can tell Grace is holding back because he knows that Rocky is working towards going back to Eridian, while Grace will never see Earth again.

One Of Ryan Gosling’s Best Performances

Ryan Gosling has delivered many mesmerizing and powerful performances throughout his career. Ryland Grace is one of his best. Gosling is able to bring in so many elements from other roles he’s portrayed, but he’s incredibly funny here, understandably terrified, and perhaps the most emotional he’s ever been in any recent on-screen role.

His take on Grace is subtle at times, but you always seem to know how he feels or what he’s thinking, even though often no one is talking. That makes the film not only more heartbreaking but also more rewarding in the long run.

Andy Weir and Drew Goddard have written Project Hail Mary, which entertains on several levels. The film is surprisingly goofy, which is meant in the most complimentary way. The concept is already intriguing, but the film takes some unexpected turns in its second half. Grace is piecing his memories back together throughout the film, so you’ll see all of the drama of space happening for a bit, and then we’ll get a flashback of how Grace got to be the final member of the Project Hail Mary scientist team.

The Most Satisfying Ending Of Any Modern Hollywood Movie

It’s Grace’s bond with Rocky that truly hijacks the film and sends it barreling into one of the most satisfying finales of recent memory. This is an adventure that makes you laugh for its first half, cry during its second, and sends you out of the theater with a big ass smile on your face and your heart full. It’s the feel-good film of the year.

Project Hail Mary is a prime example of why cinemaphiles love going to the theater. If popcorn flicks are capable of being intellectually stimulating, incredibly emotional, and monumentally worthwhile, then Project Hail Mary is the ultimate popcorn flick.

Project Hail Mary is now playing in theaters. See it in IMAX if you’re able to.