It has been just over 10 years since viewers were first introduced to the work of sci-fi author Andy Weir with Ridley Scott’s “The Martian.” In that film, a scientist (Matt Damon) was stuck on a planet millions of miles from Earth and forced to use his wits to survive against near-insurmountable odds, often punctuating his actions with smart-aleck remarks that only he could hear.

New Weir adaptation “Project Hail Mary” is different. In this film, a scientist (Ryan Gosling) is stuck on a spaceship millions of miles from Earth and forced to use his wits to survive against near-insurmountable odds, often punctuating his actions with smart-aleck remarks that only he can hear … until he has an alien buddy that can hear them.

Dr. Ryland Grace (Gosling) is on a mission to save the sun (and consequently Earth) from a bacteria that is severely diminishing its output. He’s not what you’d call a “likely” hero (just a schoolteacher........

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