In the age of Hollywood cash grabs, reboots and sequels, “Project Hail Mary” is offering something exhilarating and original to big-screen storytelling.

While the film is an adaptation of Andy Weir’s 2021 novel, “Project Hail Mary’s” classification as a sci-fi story has drawn comparisons to counterparts like “Interstellar” (2014) and “Arrival” (2016), with the story serving largely as a love letter to both scientists and teachers. If that wasn’t enough, the film has grossed over $300 million in just over a week after its release, making it an instant box-office hit. Apart from the film’s stunning visual effects (see: the Petrova line sequence featuring a chicken-wired stage of infrared lights and the Van Gogh-like planet Adrian) and the novel’s intricate scientific details, what drew most audiences in about the story is its overwhelming message of cosmic hope and perseverance. Especially in an age of such political and social uncertainty, Weir’s story offers a piece of consoling commentary on bravery, empathy and sacrifice. 

 “Project Hail Mary” follows Dr. Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) a teacher and scientist who was ridiculed for arguing against the idea that water is needed to inhabit life. As a result, Grace is recruited by Eva Stratt (Sandra Hüller) of Project Hail Mary. He studies a sample causing a virus that is slowly killing the sun—and neighboring stars— and dubs the organisms “Astrophage.” Thus, a plan is set in motion to send a group of astronauts to Tau Ceti, a star that is seemingly uninfected, and figure out why. The catch: the ship is fueled with Astrophage, enough to get the astronauts to Tau Ceti, but not bring them back. Thus, one could only imagine the horror that Grace experiences when he emerges from a coma alone and with no recollection of his own name in a spaceship 11.9 light years from Earth. 

The beauty of the story, however, comes from the relationship formed between Grace and the rock-like alien, Rocky (James Oritz), who is in space for the same reason, albeit for decades prior to the pair’s first meeting. Their shared loneliness—Rocky’s isolation and Grace’s amnesia—lay the groundwork for a friendship that surpasses both language and biology. After all, they are the only two out there for literal light years. What could have gone on the route of something akin to “Alien” (1979) is instead turned into a commentary on selflessness, curiosity and begrudgent heroes.

The appeal of Ryland Grace as a character stems from the fact that he is not the usual protagonist—he can’t even moonwalk. On Earth, Grace’s outspoken statements resulted in his shun from the scientific community, leading to his role as a content but reclusive science teacher. He recognizes the need for Stratt’s mission, even if he doesn’t want to help carry it out in any way beyond Earth-based efforts (which he is still hesitant to participate in). He is admirable of the other astronauts who are willing to sacrifice themselves, but is realistic in his understanding that he doesn’t want to be one of those himself. He refuses to be used as a replacement on a literal suicide mission following an accident with one of the intended astronauts, leading to the eventual reveal of how he ended up on the Hail Mary in the first place (yay for non-linear storytelling!). But, Grace’s behavior does beg the question: Even if you knew that you would be helping billions of other people, would you be willing to make that sacrifice?

Grace’s reaction is incredibly human, and that’s precisely what carries him throughout the story. He doesn’t come to some epiphany that inspires him to take the first step. He spends a portion of his story acting—mostly—in the interest of his comforts and fears. As a result, he is coerced and dragged aboard a ship only to wake up near his deceased crewmates with nothing to jog his memory. He no longer has any type of choice but to become brave. Yet, it is Rocky, on his paralleling mission to save his own planet, that gives Grace a sense of companionship and someone to be brave for. Neither Grace nor Rocky initially have any reason to want to help the other in their objective. Yet, they do it anyways—even if it means risking days, years, entire lifetimes for one and other—because they each have become the other’s reason.

At its core, “Project Hail Mary” is about choices: choosing to take the easy route out and being forced the other way. Choosing to pull through grief and loss, even if you have to mope around your ship with a bag of vodka first. Choosing to help your only companion in the middle of space, something more vast and lonely and beautiful than you can begin to comprehend. Choosing to save your own world and that of someone else’s because you recognize there’s now a reason for you to do so. Reconciling with your fear and choosing to be brave because sometimes, you have no other option. 

Some may find the message of the story to be saccharine or sentimental, but in a time when things often feel so bleak, sentiment isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes, our fear or ignorance needs to be acknowledged and met with resistance. 

In a recent promotional interview for the film, Ryan Gosling expressed a similar sentiment: “He [Weir] gives you this opportunity to pivot away from fear, and to maybe approach fear with curiosity, and to say maybe the future isn’t something to be afraid of, but just to be figured out.”

“Project Hail Mary’s” refreshingly realistic approach to conquering one’s fears is arguably the undercurrent to its success. You don’t need to hop on a spaceship and befriend a centuries-old alien to prove your worth. It’s far more ordinary than that. In the words of the script itself, sometimes bravery is just “finding someone to be brave for.”