I walked into the movie theater to watch “Project Hail Mary” with absolutely no idea what it was about. I did not watch a single trailer. I walked in completely blind and with no expectations. 

 Despite having no expectations, “Project Hail Mary” easily became the best movie I have seen in a long time. It was a beautiful story about bravery, hope and friendship that left me in tears long before the credits rolled. 

 The movie follows Ryland Grace, a middle school science teacher that wakes up in a spaceship with no idea how or why he is there. He meets a friendly alien, who he named Rocky, and the two go on a mission to save their respective planets from a microorganism that feeds on stars and, if gone unchecked, will destroy the delicate conditions needed for life. 

 I cannot overstate how much love I have for this movie. Although I did not read the book it was based on, I can confidently say that the movie is a wonderful experience if you walk in blind like I did. 

 The friendship between Grace and Rocky was something I have never seen on screen before. I watched as they learned how to communicate, develop inside jokes and grow to deeply care for each other. Watching how they both risk their lives to save each other had me at the edge of my seat, always second guessing if the writers would actually kill off one of these quickly beloved characters. 

 Rocky, despite being a puppet, was full of personality and life. James Ortiz, the lead puppeteer and voice actor for Rocky, did a phenomenal job at creating an alien that felt real. 

 Similarly, Ryan Gosling, who played Ryland Grace, delivered a performance that is more than worthy of an Oscar. He pulled off both the comedic aspects of the character along with the emotionally devastating moments of the movie that had the audience either crying or clutching their popcorn in anticipation. 

 The stellar performances were complemented by visuals that words cannot do justice to. According to an article from Variety, not a single blue or green screen was used in the film. The spaceship that we spend the majority of the film in was a set, and the scenes that were supposed to be in Space were shot in front of a black background with “a shifting hue background when he was up against the aurora of a planet which allowed for truer interactive light on him than a green screen would.” 

 This decision made the movie feel grounded, which is an impressive feat considering how much of it takes place in zero gravity. 

 While the performances and visual effects contribute a large part to what makes this movie so good, the heart of it all is the story. This is a story about a man deciding to be brave and willing to give up his life and his chance to go home to save his friend. 

 “Project Hail Mary” is a must-see movie. I truly believe that anyone and everyone can find something to love, whether it be the sci-fi elements, the comedic timing of Rocky and Grace, or just staring at Gosling. 

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