Loveable sci-fi epic, “Project Hail Mary,” scores an intergalactic touchdown

On the surface, living in an era of endless streaming services, podcasts, audiobooks,  news apps, and the entire history of music at our fingertips, it may seem like we are living in the golden age of entertainment.

On one hand, we can count ourselves lucky to live in a time with such easy access to so much content that satiates our appetite for amusement. Yet on the other hand, the undefeated truths of supply/demand economics tell us that inundation can oftentimes lead to diminishing returns, resulting not in a sense of having more interesting tales to enjoy, but rather an apathy or numbness as it becomes harder and harder to find genuinely authentic stories that move us.

All of this comes against the backdrop of accusations that studios are becoming increasingly more risk-averse with their content in recent years, spitting out high quantities of formulaic, market-tested, IP-backed narratives that protect their profits at the expense of original, engaging art.

Yes were full, but that plate of slop you tried to zhuzh up with a Pedro Pascal-shaped piece of parsley feels lazy and honestly, just really doesn't taste all that good.

So within this climate of cynicism, maybe the best compliment one can give the new film “Project Hail Mary” is that it can’t help but remind audiences why they fell in love with movies—and storytelling—in the first place.

Developed by veteran Hollywood creative partners Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,” “21 Jump Street”), the film follows Dr. Ryland Grace, a molecular biologist turned middle school teacher who inadvertently gets swept up in an outer space mission to save the world after a sun-eating parasite is discovered. 

The movie stars Ryan Gosling, who proves perfect in the lead role of the lovable, wisecracking poindexter that befriends an alien. In fairness, even before this film, most of us would have agreed Gosling wouldn't make a bad choice for Earth's extraterrestrial ambassador.

Chock-full of charm, humor and the seductive mysteries of space, “Project Hail Mary’s” two-and-a-half-hour run time flies by in the best way as audiences get sucked into the cosmic adventure.

On top of the endearing narrative, the film is supplemented with spectacular visual effects, including explosions, space walks and far off planets, making this a perfect popcorn movie that demands to be seen on the big screen.  

The film was adapted from the beloved novel of the same name by author Andy Weir, who had previously achieved silver screen acclaim with the success of his first book, “The Martian," and its subsequent film adaptation.

Similar to “The Martian,” “Project Hail Mary” hits its best notes when it leans into the irresistible wit, optimism, and humanity of its main character in the face of dire circumstances. 

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At its core, the film tells the story of connection, friendship, selflessness and the futility of challenges when organisms, no matter how different, work together to overcome them.

In a time when general belief in the human race might be teetering at an all-time low, “Project Hail Mary” attempts to remind us, naively or not, that there still may yet be something inspiring, something worthwhile in the best parts of our human nature.

So embraceable was the world Weir, Lord and Miller created, that the most unrealistic parts of the film weren’t aliens and intergalactic travel, but either that, when confronted with impending catastrophe, the international community put aside their grievances to solve a mutual problem (we know that’s not the case), or that this is a universe where a bespectacled Ryan Gosling whose good with children is somehow single (willing suspension of disbelief only goes so far).

Family-friendly while still offering a little something for all ages, “Project Hail Mary” is worth the viewing, even for those not familiar with the book or averse to science fiction. It manages to do the impossible, creating that sense of wonder, excitement, and inspiration that going to the movies felt like as a kid. Because in this era of endless options to fill our free time, maybe those options that strive for something greater, that prove to rise above the rest, deserve to be celebrated more than ever.