Directorial superteam Phil Lord and Christopher Miller’s latest venture is an astronomical accomplishment.

Based on “The Martian,” author Andy Weir’s 2011 novel, “Project Hail Mary” tells the story of a middle school science teacher named Ryland Grace who is sent into space in a ship called the Hail Mary to discover a way to save the Sun after mysterious organisms are consuming stars. He meets a strange rock-like creature, which he names Rocky. The two must work together to discover a way to save both of their suns before their planets suffer.

On every level, “Project Hail Mary” absolutely soars.

With jaw-dropping visuals, you will absolutely be transported to the horror and beauty of space alongside Grace. The design for Rocky, a beloved character for fans of the book, will leave fans thoroughly satisfied. The team primarily used practical puppetry to bring him to life, only using CGI to clean up shots. This works entirely in the film’s favor, making the character more real and the interactions between him and Grace more powerful and believable.

Ryan Gosling does an amazing job bringing the well-meaning yet awkward Grace to life. He balances Grace’s quirky nature with facing the struggle of saving the world.

Director and puppeteer James Ortiz was part of the team that brought Rocky to life. He read for Rocky, believing a more famous actor would take his place. Lord and Miller were so pleased with his performance that they decided to keep him in the film. Ortiz, who has a long history of working and performing with puppetry, adds a unique flair to the lovable alien. He gives emotion and personality to a distinctly faceless creature, beautifully bouncing off of Gosling.

The film’s pacing is top-notch, holding the audience’s attention from minute one. During every scene in which Grace is forced to travel outside of the ship into deep space, the tension is at its peak and it only grows with each new trek the duo makes.

Cinematographer Greig Fraser needs no introduction, having won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography in 2021 for his work on “Dune.” He brings his A-game here, masterfully crafting scenes and making the expansive Hail Mary feel claustrophobic among the vast vacuum of space.

Lord and Miller collaborated with Drew Goddard on the script. Goddard, who also wrote the film adaptation of Weir’s most famous novel, “The Martian,” can bring out Weir’s unmistakable style and combine it with Lord and Miller’s iconic comedic style.

Lord and Miller’s directorial style seeps through every scene, making it distinctly theirs. No matter what material they work with, it seems they can capture its essence and blend it masterfully with their technique.

“Project Hail Mary” fundamentally understands not only its subject material but also the beauty and petrifying nature of space. It shows you how, even in the most isolating place we know, you are never truly alone when you have someone to fight for.