What if the sun were dying, and you were sent to stop it? And what if your only ally was someone you couldn’t shake hands with?

The movie Project Hail Mary deals with those questions, dishing out drama and hope while tackling unexpected friendships along the way.

Ryan Gosling plays Ryland Grace, a middle school science teacher with a doctorate in molecular biology and a chip on his shoulder after the academic world rejected his theory that life could exist without water or a habitable zone. That same paper grabbed the attention of those scrambling to solve an extinction-level crisis.

Watching Grace piece himself back together is half the joy of the film. The other half is Rocky. But that’s a spoiler. You’ll just have to trust me.

Project Hail Mary trusts its audience. We’re treated as people who can follow complex storylines, feel the weight of impossible stakes, and still laugh out loud.

The music is top-notch. The character arc is even better. Grace begins the story running from something and ends it running toward something. He’s found meaning in his life in unexpected but funny, tender, hopeful ways.

A note for parents: the high stakes and intense drama make this a better fit for teens and adults than younger children. Language is mild.

Go see it. The hardcore sci-fi crowd might want to bring a calculator. The rest can bring tissues. Either way, go.