Project Hail Mary: It Takes Two

Lisa M. Hendey reviews the blockbuster screen adaptation of the Andy Weir bestseller, featuring Academy Award® nominee Ryan Gosling. 

Typically when it comes to film adaptations of beloved books, I prefer to read the content before I see it on the big screen. This didn’t happen with Project Hail Mary, the buzz-worthy new movie based on the novel by Andy Weir. For me, a lifelong Catholic and a graduate of Notre Dame, the term “Hail Mary” evokes two images:

1. The Blessed Mother, who is quite definitely the most faithful woman in history
2. As Wikipedia defines it “a very long forward pass in American football, typically made in desperation, with a very small chance of achieving a completion.”

What I experienced while falling in love with this movie was a melding of these two elements: an all-hopes-pinned-on-it leap of blind faith and an outlandishly high-stakes-low-possibility crazy attempt to save humanity.

Synopsis:

Science teacher Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up on a spaceship light years from home with no recollection of who he is or how he got there. As his memory returns, he begins to uncover his mission: solve the riddle of the mysterious substance causing the sun to die out. He must call on his scientific knowledge and unorthodox ideas to save everything on Earth from extinction… but an unexpected friendship means he may not have to do it alone. Source: Amazon MGM Studios

Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (The Lego Movie, the Spider-Verse films, 21 Jump Street), Project Hail Mary may fall into the sci-fi genre due to its futuristic setting and ample inclusion of alien life forms. But for me, this film was all about tender relationships and clinging to hope. Ryan Gosling (and believe me, I swoon when I type his name) is stellar as Ryland Grace, PhD (perfect name, right?!), a quirky middle-school science teacher with outlandish theories about molecular biology that have had him largely cancelled by his academic colleagues. 

It’s only when all life on earth is threatened that Dr. Grace’s unwieldy ideas about the possibilities of life on other planets places him at the center of a potential interstellar “Project Hail Mary” attempt. The authoritative project director Eva Stratt (Sandra Hüller) co-opts Ryland and brings him on board, not taking “no” for an answer. For all her hard-shelled interior, Stratt is wholeheartedly dedicated to her mission: saving humanity. An alien microorganism dubbed the “Astrophage” is infecting the Sun and consuming its energy, causing it to dim. Stratt believes that Ryland is the one man who can stop the Astrophage, and she’ll stop at nothing to get him onboard (literally!) 

In a film about the end of humankind, there are remarkably humane moments and relationships here. Eva Stratt may seem devoid of emotion, but there is tenderness in her too, as we witness during an epic karaoke moment when she drops her guard and sings Harry Styles’ “Sign of the Times.” I also loved the bro-mance between Ryland and Steve Hatch, portrayed by Lionel Boyce of The Bear.

Of course, the most elemental friendship of the film happens between Ryland Grace and “Rocky,” a spider-like, five-limbed faceless engineer from the planet Erid. Like Ryland, Rocky is the sole survivor on his own ship and an analytical wiz with a delightful sense of humor. Quickly, Ryland and Rocky develop a system of communication which enables them to work together for mutual interstellar salvation. What begins as a co-working partnership develops into a deep, life-altering friendship. While Rocky is portrayed by a team of puppeteers and assisted by technology, the character is voiced by James Ortiz (The Woodsman), who essentially became Ryan Gosling’s acting counterpart on set. Quickly, we forget that Rocky is a faceless creature. Instead, he is Ryland’s best friend, and we fall in love with him too.

Friendships, fraternal love, and a willingness to sacrifice anything for one’s belief in one’s mission are just a few of the important themes of Project Hail Mary. This is a cosmically outstanding film that redefines the Hero’s Journey with wit, courage, and heart. Be sure to see this family-friendly blockbuster on the big screen to capture its full artistry.

This film is rated PG-13 for some thematic material and suggestive references.

A question for you:

If it was possible for you to travel into space or to another planet, would you go? 

Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2026 Lisa M. Hendey
Images: copyright 2026 Amazon Content Services LLC. All Rights Reserved. 

 This article contains Amazon affiliate links, which provide a small compensation to the author of this piece when purchases are made through the links, at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting our Catholic Mom writers in this way.