Will 'Project Hail Mary' soar higher than 'The Martian'?

Sci-fi fare about space travel and aliens isn't always embraced by wide audiences, but with "Project Hail Mary," moviegoers will be more than satisfied and plenty happy they made the trip to the theater.

Dr. Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) awakes on a spaceship with no memory of who he is or why is he traveling across the stars. Nobody is around to explain the situation. As he slowly recalls the events that led up to his predicament, he realizes the fate of the Earth, and planets across the galaxy, now rely on him.

If that isn't stressful enough... wait a second... what's going on outside the ship?!

If you've seen any promotions for "Project Hail Mary," they've already spoiled this major plot point. It's safe to say that he meets and befriends an alien — a walking, talking rock.

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"Project Hail Mary" is a genuine sci-fi film. It most closely fits in the tradition of "2001: A Space Odyssey," "Ad Astra," or "Interstellar." Just like those space-faring films, the story is deeply rooted in our understanding of space travel; however, the story does rely on some speculative science to fully blast off. So, there are no transporters or phasers in this sci-fi movie. Instead, there are airlocks and microscopes. The centrifugal force is strong with "Project Hail Mary."

And unlike other movies in this tradition, "Project Hail Mary" offers a layer of comedy, which should make it all go down nicely with viewers. With a lot more laughs, lovable buddy comedy, a fantastical adventure, and a stellar performance by Ryan Gosling, "Project Hail Mary" has the potential to win over audiences across the globe.

"Project Hail Mary" will inevitably be compared to "The Martian," which received rave reviews. Both are film adaptations of sci-fi novels by author Andy Weir. And both stories share the same structure: Someone is far from home, facing danger, and must use knowledge, math, and his wits to succeed, all while keeping a video diary to explain what is happening.

With these stories, science is a main character. It plays as much of a role as the protagonist and is a co-hero of the story. But Weir finds a way to make science engaging and fun. Even if you fell asleep in your high school physics class, you'll be on the edge of your seat for a film like "Project Hail Mary."

Though, the science in "Project Hail Mary" is not as present as it is in "The Martian." It is certainly not as deeply explained as in the book version of "Project Hail Mary." Grace is seen scribbling equations and explaining concepts around cellular life, but these points are often glossed over. The film spends more time on the more adventurous aspects of the storyline. Fans of the novel will find that much of the book is sped through to get to the adventure and all the comedy that comes from having an alien buddy.

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In "The Martian," for example, time is taken to highlight everything from nutrition to burning hydrazine to make water, even a spaceship's slingshot maneuver around Earth. "Project Hail Mary" leans more into the curious space journey and laughter over odd roommates. To be fair, "The Martian" was deeply rooted in the modern reality of space travel, while the premise for "Project Hail Mary" is more out of this world.

Fans who are drawn more to the science parts of sci-fi, will lean more toward "The Martian." Audiences will praise the more fantastical adventure in "Project Hail Mary" along with its stunning visuals and humor.

With both "The Martian" and "Project Hail Mary," author Weir has charted a new course for sci-fi, one that is able to offer the wonder and fun of science, ultimately giving Hollywood some fresh angles to work with. This approach has previously been offered by the speculative science of "Star Trek" or the more hardcore science of "Interstellar." "Star Trek" uses warp drives and aliens to bring audiences far out into space in order to explore something very close to home — ourselves. Movies like "Interstellar" use science as the backdrop to adventure. Weir has found a way to strike a balance between these two sci-fi vibes in a way that is palatable for wider audiences.

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"Project Hail Mary"

4/5 stars

Screen or stream? Screen. Definitely see this in a theater. It's even worth it to see "Project Hail Mary" in IMAX.

Rated PG-13