I have qualms.

I’d expected that I might be jumping up and down, waving my arms and telling one and all that the new movie Project Hail Mary is a MUST-SEE film. Its clever story comes from a best-selling book. It has a cute, non-threatening alien. It stars Ryan Gosling. The visuals are stunning.

But I have qualms about anointing Project Hail Mary an all-time great movie. Others will and that’s their opinion.

Why do I have these qualms?

The book is better than the movie. Yes, they are two different things. Most people who see the movie will not have read the book. Good for them or you!

The narrative is similar to those we’ve seen in other space/sci-fi movies: mission underway, problems/peril, tension, resolution. Just check ‘em off as you go. PHM does have distinctive features including some trippy images and, presumably, the science, while over my head, is legit or close to it.

The mixture of tension and humor seems unnatural, contrived. Well, it IS contrived—it’s fiction! But still, those two elements could’ve been blended better. Does PHM want to be a serious movie or a lightweight movie?

The depiction of the alien Rocky, to my eye, is a bit hokey. Like a Jim Henson Muppet reject. Is that the best they could come up with?

The German gal Eva (Sandra Huller) is just a bit TOO German. Rather off-putting.

The effects are quite good but I’ve seen better.

Is my lack of passion and zeal for PHM because I’ve seen so many of these films and I’ve become weary about yet another one? Maybe. But this genre has given us numerous true classics from 2001 to Apollo 13. (I do admit to disagreeing with the high IMDB user rating for Interstellar. #18? Seriously?)

On the upside, Ryan Gosling as middle school teacher turned astronaut Ryland Grave is excellent as usual. He never fails to deliver. The novelist Andy Weir has given Gosling a cool character to work with.

And the depiction of the alien Rocky’s subjective visions—sort of like a fuzzy pre-cable UHF signal—is impressive.

Also in the cast in minor roles are Lionel Boyce who plays Marcus on The Bear. And Milana Vayntrub who did those AT&T Wireless TV spots for years.

Project Hail Mary is a good, well-made, entertaining movie. Go see it and enjoy it. You might have your mind blown. Or not. Rated PG-13. First showings are set for Thursday, March 19.

Project Hail Mary is directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller.