We Review Project Hail Mary

In this episode of Fans on Patrol, hosts Montego and Tiff O'Bott dive into their thoughts on the 2026 sci-fi film *Project Hail Mary*, starring Ryan Gosling and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. The duo shares their mixed but ultimately positive reactions to the movie, praising its heartwarming tone, strong performances—especially Gosling’s lone lead role—and the emotional bond between the astronaut and his alien companion, Rocky. While they agree the film runs long—around 2 hours and 36 minutes—and some flashback sequences drag, they appreciate the film’s optimistic message about cooperation between species and humanity’s resilience. They also discuss the film’s box office underperformance ($141M against a $248M budget) despite strong critical reception (95% on Rotten Tomatoes), and reflect on the broader context of superhero and sci-fi cinema, including trailers for *Spider-Man* and *Dune*. The hosts express excitement for future films and invite fans to join them on the show. Key takeaways include: 1) *Project Hail Mary* succeeds as a hopeful, character-driven sci-fi story despite pacing issues; 2) The bond between Gosling’s character and the alien Rocky is the film’s emotional core and a standout element; 3) The movie’s themes of collaboration over conflict resonate deeply in a genre often dominated by destruction; 4) The film’s long runtime could have been trimmed, especially during solo exploration scenes; 5) The movie’s success may depend more on word-of-mouth than box office numbers, given its strong fan score and critical acclaim. Overall, the hosts recommend the film as a cozy, uplifting experience perfect for a rainy day.