Project Hail Mary kicks off with an intriguing premise: A man wakes up on a spaceship with no memory of who he is or how he got there. But as his memories gradually become untangled, he is suddenly met with another unexpected incident: the arrival of a gigantic alien spaceship.

A first contact story is nothing new — it’s the kind of far-future sci-fi story that has been a staple of the genre for decades — but Andy Weir’s 2021 novel, like his acclaimed 2011 debut The Martian, took great pains to ground the fiction in as much hard science as possible. Weir gave us lengthy descriptions about how gravity works, explained the intricacies of relativity, and mapped out a (somewhat) plausible situation in which the Earth would be plunged into an apocalypse following the discovery of organisms that eat stars. But it also made sure to do this with many, many jokes on hand.

It’s no surprise, then, that directors Phil Lord and Chris Miller gravitated to Project Hail Mary. Its wry approach to the alien first contact story was right up their alley, as the directors who turned 21 Jump Street into a new-gen comedy hit, and who managed to weave complex sci-fi ideas into an earnest coming-of-age story with Into the Spider-Verse. They once again work their magic on Project Hail Mary, a spectacular and spectacularly moving sci-fi blockbuster that occasionally struggles under its big ideas, but is saved by the sheer star power of Ryan Gosling and his adorable alien friend.

Thinking of booking a trip to Hawaii? Start by picking a place to stay that gives you the perfect combination of cultural experiences and familiar comforts.

Kaimana Beach Hotel does precisely that. With Waikiki as its jumping-off point for exploration, you’ll bask in the beauty of this retreat on the ocean’s edge. Fill your itinerary with sunrise yoga, stand-up paddleboarding, and stargazing. Enjoy a complimentary bike rental or take a hula lesson, then dip into Pau Hana happy hour for a Monthly Mixology series and delicious dishes and cocktails. And for an extra special start to your days, book the Kaimana By Morning experience which includes breakfast by the sea for two under the historic Hau Tree, plus coffee from Sunset Provisions.