Hollywood is no stranger to a space blockbuster. From “Interstellar” to “Gravity,” countless silver-screen heroes have taken to the stars to navigate life-or-death missions and save the world as we know it.

On its face, “Project Hail Mary” appears to follow in the footsteps of the many smash-hit science fiction films before it. The movie, adapted from Andy Weir’s novel of the same name, was released in the U.S. on March 20 and stars Ryan Gosling as science teacher Ryland Grace. In the film, Grace awakens from a coma to find himself alone on a spacecraft galaxies away from Earth — with no memory of who he is.

Through a series of flashbacks to his life back home, Grace and the audience gradually learn that he was selected by an international government agency to research a mysterious species of organisms threatening to devour the sun.

Grace’s spaceship is en route to a single star light-years away from Earth. Unlike the others, this star appears mysteriously immune to the organisms’ dangerous effects. So, to save humanity from an ice age and inevitable death, Grace has been tasked with studying what makes this star so special and reporting his findings back to Earth.

The catch? With only enough fuel on the ship for a one-way trip, Grace’s journey was designed to be a suicide mission.

The premise of the film is certainly heavy, and that’s not something the writers shy away from. Grace is constantly forced to reckon with both his own mortality and the fate of humankind throughout the film. The stakes are so terrifyingly tangible that it’s difficult not to get invested in his mission’s outcome.

Even so, “Project Hail Mary” has its lighthearted moments. It’s silly. It’s hopeful. 

Simply put, it’s just plain fun. 

Much of the film’s levity comes from Rocky, a lone rock-like alien Grace encounters out in deep space. Despite a significant language barrier — and the fact that neither can survive in the other’s atmosphere — the pair become fast friends, evoking the dynamic of a rowdy, lovable dog and its owner. 

Gosling himself shines in his role as Grace. Even in his serious moments, he manages to radiate good-natured charm and almost boyish optimism, a fantastic foil to the mission’s grave stakes. It’s clear directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller encouraged Gosling to improvise at times, given how easy and spontaneous his line delivery often feels. 

This ‘Kenergy’ — for lack of a better word — works to soften the sterile, claustrophobic environment of his spacecraft, and it infuses the film with a jovial lightheartedness.

It’s also incredibly endearing to see the hero at the helm of a space blockbuster be such an unabashed nerd, especially in contrast to the bland, stoic protagonists many dystopian stories tend to employ. A molecular biologist turned middle school teacher, Grace bursts with excitement at every scientific discovery he makes, whether it’s a dead cell in a Petri dish or a planet covered in extraterrestrials.

These dense scientific aspects of the story are masterfully conveyed to the audience: We receive just enough jargon to make Grace’s dialogue feel realistic, but the film never crosses the line of feeling too esoteric or inaccessible to the average viewer. 

In general, “Project Hail Mary” strikes the perfect balance between an intense sci-fi feature and a lighthearted feel-good flick. With its homey humor and endless charm, it’s ripe for rewatchability — and I’ll be the first in line when it’s available on streaming.

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