Eri Reviews Things

PS: The title was my partner’s idea, who was my plus one during the Melbourne premiere

One of the films I was most looking forward to in 2026 was Project Hail Mary, directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, the duo behind Sony’s Spider-Verse films, and starring Ryan Gosling. The film is based on the sci-fi novel by Andy Weir, who also wrote The Martian. Project Hail Mary follows an astronaut trying to save Earth, with the assistance of extra-terrestrial life.

Project Hail Mary takes place in two main settings: Earth and space. The film opens with Dr Ryland Grace (Gosling) waking up alone aboard a spacecraft with no memory of who he is, where he is, or why he is there. Two other astronauts who were meant to be part of the mission have already died. His only companions are a medical robot, the spaceship he calls ‘Mary,’ and a vlog camera, which he uses to record his thoughts as he tries to piece together what happened.

As Grace slowly regains his memories, the story shifts between the present and flashbacks on Earth. Before the mission, he was working as a school teacher when the government recruited him to study Astrophage. This mysterious space organism is draining energy from the sun and threatening life on Earth. As the flashbacks continue, the audience learns how his research eventually led to his selection for the mission. Things change for the better when Grace encounters Rocky, a rock-like alien who is also trying to save his own planet from the same threat. The two begin working together, slowly learning how to communicate and cooperate as they try to find a solution that can save both of their worlds.

If you are expecting Project Hail Mary to feel like The Martian, think again. The Martian focuses on real science and survival techniques grounded in realism. Project Hail Mary leans further into the fictional side of science fiction. Without Rocky, Grace would be dead, and Earth would likely be doomed. Grace’s research into Astrophage lays the foundation, but the real breakthroughs come once he starts collaborating with his alien friend.

For some reason, I also found myself relating to Rocky in the way he speaks. Because he is an alien, Grace creates a translation system so they can communicate. While most of the translations work at a conversational level, some words Rocky needs lack direct equivalents in human language. This leads to moments where Rocky says things like “Need new word,” or adds tone indicators like “question,” “statement,” or “joke” at the end of sentences. I love this detail because, as a bilingual person, I run into the same situation. Sometimes there is a Tagalog word that perfectly captures a feeling, but no English word carries the same weight. You end up searching for the closest possible translation. Rocky is doing the same thing as he tries to express his thoughts.

Project Hail Mary also has some impressive visual moments. It is not on the same level as Avatar, Gravity, or Interstellar, though one sequence featured in the trailer comes close. At most, the visuals reminded me more of Star Wars. That is interesting since Gosling is also set to appear in the upcoming Star Wars: Starfighter movie, so Project Hail Mary almost feels like a preview of what he might look like in that universe. I watched the film in IMAX, and it still looked great, though I hope those visuals translate well on a smaller screen.

Story-wise, Project Hail Mary’s decision to tell the past and present stories simultaneously works well. The flashbacks slowly reveal why Grace was chosen for the mission and how he ended up with amnesia. It creates a steady sense of curiosity throughout the film. The audience keeps watching because they want to know how everything connects and whether Grace will actually succeed.

As for Gosling, his performance as Dr Grace is excellent. His chemistry with Rocky is strong and entertaining. Their friendship feels genuine, and it makes sense that Grace’s first instinct is not to harm the alien. He is completely alone in space, so having someone to talk to becomes a luxury that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Gosling also moves comfortably between comedic and dramatic moments. One early scene stands out in which Grace, still trying to understand what is happening, suddenly realises how much information he is processing and asks the ship, “Wait… am I super smart?” It is a small moment, but it is very funny.

If there is another film I compare Project Hail Mary to, it might actually be Iron Lung by Markiplier. Both films focus on a man alone in a spacecraft conducting dangerous research in hopes of saving his species, and what it feels like to be isolated when you are far from home. The main difference is that Project Hail Mary features much friendlier aliens, more supportive people back on Earth, less horror and more comedy, and a much bigger budget. If you enjoyed Iron Lung, you will enjoy this as well.

Overall, Project Hail Mary is an entertaining science fiction film that blends humour with emotional drama. Gosling captures the pressure of being humanity’s last hope while still portraying Grace as someone who does not really see himself as a hero. The film may not be as scientifically grounded as The Martian, and the visuals are not always groundbreaking. However, it still tells a compelling story about an ordinary person trying to save the world with a little help.

EriReviewsThings attended a screening of Project Hail Mary as a guest of Sony Pictures Australia