Movie Review: Project Hail Mary 🇺🇸
The bestselling sci-fi novel by author Andy Weir is adapted into a live-action film by the duo of Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, known for "The LEGO Movie" and "21Jump Street".
Grace (Ryan Gosling), a lowly middle school science teacher, is selected for the "Hail Mary" project to save Earth from an unexplained anomaly where the sun's energy is being drained, and is sent deep into space. Relying on his scientific knowledge to survive, Grace encounters an unexpected meeting in space.
Contrary to the grand scale of the sci-fi setting, the film felt somewhat calm. The reason for this lies in Grace's consistently composed and level-headed actions. Especially at the beginning, when he wakes up in space without knowing why, his depiction of calmly organizing the situation without changing his expression sets the steady tone for the film.
Because his mind is calm, all that remains is to keep acting to break through the current situation. This film is a story of a protagonist who perfectly embodies the "once you hit rock bottom, the only way is up" mentality, as Grace's situation improves step by step. Furthermore, this process also contributes to the film's excitement. The tension will surely rise significantly toward the end.
Rocky is what really boosted the tension and emotional impact of this film. By adding silent-film-like movements to his rock-shaped, alien design, his cuteness is emphasized. Having such a cute ally must have been a great source of strength for Grace. Also, as a "first contact" story that depicts a friendship budding through cross-cultural exchange like in "E.T.", it can be watched with peace of mind.
The friendship between Grace and Rocky evokes the emotional resonance of a buddy film. Not only do they cooperate for each other's goals, but the scene where they risk their lives to protect their partner from danger is tear-jerking. They deepen their bond through first contact, and while they may be shy about it, they express their feelings frankly when it matters most. There aren't many buddy duos that are this pleasant to watch.
What makes this film excellent is how it successfully incorporates the appeal of a sci-fi movie while brilliantly elevating it into a buddy story. In other words, it is filled with a joy that transcends genre boundaries. It doesn't force anything on you through the screen; rather, it is a work that naturally evokes and reaffirms the "movie memories" that exist within each and every audience member.