I primarily write about television, but I often see movies and have thoughts on them beyond what I might say on my Letterboxd. So from time to time, I'll write something about a film. This is one of those times.
I saw Project Hail Mary over the weekend. Based on the box office results, I suspect many of you have, as well. I have a lot of thoughts — with some spoilers, but I'll warn you again before we get to anything not in the film's marketing campaign — coming up just as soon as you fist my bump...
I've never kept track of exact numbers, but it's entirely possible that I've rewatched The Martian more than any other film in my lifetime — and that includes my beloved Midnight Run. I've read the book multiple times in full (and re-read certain sections more often than that), and listened to the R.C. Bray audiobook several times. It is my ultimate comfort food story, combining so many separate narrative elements I love: astronauts solving problems in space, wry humor and pop culture gags, people coming together in unexpected bursts of heroism, etc. Andy Weir's next book, Artemis, didn't do a lot for me, but Project Hail Mary (specifically the audiobook version narrated by Ray Porter) very much gave me a lot of the same pleasurable vibes as The Martian. So when the movie adaptation started coming into place, with Drew Goddard once again writing the script, I was excited. Perhaps it wouldn't live up to its cinematic predecessor, or even to the joy the book gave me, but my hopes were high.
The movie somehow exceeded them. We're many years away from knowing if it will become as much a perennial for me as the adventures of Mark Watney: Space Pirate, but Goddard, directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller, and the rest of the creative team and cast knocked this one out of the park.