When people heard about a new movie based on a bestselling novel and starring actor Ryan Gosling, expectations were set high. Luckily, Project Hail Mary, an emotional and exciting science-fiction film, exceeded those expectations. Based on a novel written by Andy Weir, it has quickly become Gosling’s top-rated movie on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 95% critic score. Viewers like me find themselves getting pulled into a space adventure and attached to a few characters along the way.

To give you more details on the plot would spoil too many surprises, but trust me, you want to see this movie.

Part of the reason I was so impressed with the film is Gosling’s performance. Considering he didn’t have any main human co-stars, he carries almost every scene on his shoulders, and was still able to make me feel an emotional connection through the screen. The movie is also scientifically informative and has accurate details and theories about space and time, keeping the story believable and interesting for viewers. The film is also visually stunning, using modern technology to show beautiful and detailed scenes that are competitive with some of the most famous space movies of the past, like Interstellar and The Martian.

While watching this movie, I cried multiple times, felt tension, and laughed a whole lot, making it a very memorable experience and a movie worth watching again. The friends I watched it with also had nothing but good things to say, like these:

• “This was one of my favorite movies because it kept me interested even though it was a longer one (with a running time of 2 hours and 36 minutes).”
• “There was a twist around every corner.”
• “I felt attached to a character who wasn’t even human, which added the emotional impact.”

Overall, Project Hail Mary is a beautiful and heartfelt story brought to life by a very talented actor. Movie theaters around the country have received a boost in business this year due to the super-high ratings of this film. It will keep you talking about it for a long time after you finish watching. So, if you’re a science fiction fan or just want a good laugh or cry, go see it.