REACTION - Project Hail Mary got us emotionally invested in an alien rock puppet

Tears of the Rockdom.

By Jonathan Garrett
08/04/26

We could never have reasonably predicted the emotional investment generated by an extra-terrestrial, wiggly rock being, and yet here we are. Project Hail Mary, the gigantic budget film adaption directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (from Andy Weir’s 2021 novel) is a dazzling and arresting epic. Ryan Gosling largely carries the film solo with a significant portion of the action taking place with him in isolation on a seemingly doomed trip to a nearby star.

If there’s a sense of The Martian about the proceedings, then comparisons are rightfully drawn. Much like Matt Damon’s portrayal of Mark Watney, we are immediately endeared to Gosling’s performance as he doesn’t shy away from the idiosyncrasies that isolation can typically create. The reluctant hero angle, coupled with his bond with “Rocky”, make his role a huge part of the films success.

And then there’s the little pile of rocks that stole my heart. The practical effect, combined with a sharp script and a great vocal performance, created a weird and immediately memorable character where you’re actually invested in its wellbeing. Project Hail Mary is absolutely worth seeing on the biggest screen you can find. The visual effects are stellar, and the writing is spot on.

---