A few days ago, driving through Princeton, a lengthy line outside the Garden Theatre caught my eye. For a second, I wondered what movie could possibly be garnering this much attention, but then feeling foolish, I realized that there was only one movie playing that could gather this crowd: Project Hail Mary. With extreme internet reactions, impressive reviews, stunning imagery and a touching story, the film, starring Ryan Gosling, is quickly becoming a phenomenon.

Based on Andy Weir’s science fiction book, the movie follows Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling), an unsuspecting middle school science teacher who is recruited for a space mission to save the world. He ends up alone in space with no hope of getting home and meets an alien, Rocky, who quickly becomes his companion and eventually, his best friend. Together they save their respective planets, and in a selfless show of friendship, Ryland gives up his chance of getting home, saves Rocky, and stays on Rocky’s planet Erid.

Reviews online have been overwhelmingly positive, with the film earning a 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, but I wanted to ask the opinions of some of our very own film lovers at PDS. Junior Charles Rosenberg commented “I was excited by the cast and the trailers, but I was nervous as the last adapted Andy Weir book, The Martian, didn’t live up to my expectations at all.” But following his watch of the movie, he reported that it “definitely lived up to my expectations. If this movie became the blueprint for more films going forward I would be more than happy.” Melisa Myser, the Film and Media teacher, went into the movie with no prior knowledge or expectations, and was pleased by its “great depth” and “interesting themes”. She particularly enjoyed Rocky’s character, because “how can you not.” Project Hail Mary has brought people into the theaters, and Ms. Myser states that whenever “they actually actively watch a movie is a win in my book, regardless of what the movie is. Great cinema happens in theaters, with strangers who are all invested in the story.”

Project Hail Mary allows for this; it is a crowd pleaser, but in a deeper and thematic sense. The film gives space for comedy, science, death and love, keeping movie goers on the edge of their seat hoping it does not end, and leaving them dashing out of the theater to recommend the film to their friends.