Ryan Gosling travels far beyond Earth in “Project Hail Mary,” where he partners with a cute alien to save humanity. Critics, scientists, and fans alike are weighing in on the film’s blend of space adventure and scientific plausibility.

“Project Hail Mary” follows in the footsteps of “The Martian,” both adapted from Andy Weir’s sci-fi novels. While the creative team embraces the exciting legacy left by Ridley Scott and Matt Damon, they admit a certain trepidation about meeting high expectations with Ryan Gosling in the lead and Phil Lord and Christopher Miller behind the camera.