‘Project Hail Mary’ launches audiences on a journey through the stars

The protagonist of “Project Hail Mary,” Ryland Grace, gazes at Earth from afar, wearing his lab coat to identify himself as a scientist. As of early May, the movie has grossed approximately $638 million internationally according to Box Office Mojo, making it one of the most successful sci-fi films of the year. Audiences describe “Project Hail Mary” as visually appealing, funny, and surprisingly emotional, making the new science fiction film popular and widely discussed. Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, “Project Hail Mary” is based on Andy Weir’s bestselling novel. The story follows Ryland Grace, a lone astronaut on a mission to save Earth from a crisis, as he navigates his past and present to uncover a series of events that motivate his mission and help him make a friend along the way. “There are lots of movies that are good, but to be a great movie, it needs the scenes you remember many years later that you could pick out from it,” said Mark Langan, a sci-fi enthusiast. “There are lots of good movies that don’t have this, that don’t elevate them to that level; I think this movie had some of those.” At its core, the film focuses on friendship, problem-solving, and survival, with several viewers noting that flashbacks elevated the story and revealed more of the plotline to the audience. They also provided more insight into the awkward yet relatable protagonist, portrayed by Ryan Gosling, and his character development as he is slowly dragged into the complex problem NASA is determined to solve. “There are tons of references to hope in this movie, woven into every stressful situation, of which there are many,” said Toby Slater, a sophomore at Carlmont who has seen the movie. “Every character shows hope for the mission at some point in the movie, and it’s portrayed nicely.” Another aspect audiences enjoyed was the comedic aspect. “I really liked the comedy. I watched ‘The Martian’ as well. I feel like that one was a lot more serious. This one was really fun, so I do like this one the most,” said Rachel Wang, who accompanied Langan to see the film. The variety of aspects made for a compelling watch, with viewers giving mostly positive reactions towards the plot, art, and characters, such as Grace and Rocky. “The whole sequence of the collection and the atmosphere was just so tense. It has very interesting visuals, very abnormal stuff too,” Langan said. The film’s popularity is not only due to its entrancing visuals but also to the relatability of its characters, creating a comfortable atmosphere while keeping viewers on their toes. “ I would recommend this movie, and it was one of the best movies I’ve seen in a while. The visuals are really cool, but if you show it to a science nerd, warn them about the unbalanced centrifuge beforehand,” Slater said. Langan agrees. “Yes. I’d say this is a definite thumbs down for me, if you get the Rocky reference.”