When Project Hail Mary debuted in theaters last month, people lost their minds over it. Fair enough. It's truly compelling to watch Ryan Gosling floating around in space and slowly piecing together who he is and why he’s there.
But the part that got people the most wasn't the science or the space or even Gosling. It was the character of Rocky, the spider-like, clicking, ammonia-breathing alien who becomes Ryland Grace’s best friend somewhere between the stars. Most fascinating of all, the movie never asks you to be scared of Rocky.
It's a story about two creatures who stumble into each other and figure things out together. It really is sweet.