The Love For Rocky in ‘Project Hail Mary’ Is Proof Of One Thing: Practical Effects Are Always Better
It’s only been a week since Project Hail Mary released in theaters, but the warmly enthusiastic reception to it has made it feel like it’s been around for much longer. It’s an optimistic movie that came at just the right time. But the driving factor, the beating heart, of this film isn’t wholly in its human characters. It lies instead with a little alien aptly dubbed Rocky by Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling). Step aside, E.T., there’s a new physical alien buddy in town.
It hasn’t been since 2016’s The Force Awakens and BB-8 that we’ve seen such widespread outpouring of love for a non-human character in a film–not even Grogu made this much of a splash so quickly. The fanart is incredible. The fan-made merch is already extensive. People (me) have been effusive over how much Rocky has made them cry, and how beautiful the friendship between Grace and Rocky becomes throughout the film.
It goes beyond Rocky being beloved as well. In the past few decades, CGI has become the norm for films that have non-human characters. And while CGI is undoubtedly a good thing, it has also largely taken over the things that used to be practical. I may be a purist, but there really is nothing better than practical effects, and Rocky proves that.
Though, yes, some CGI was used, it being supplemental is what makes all of this work. Coming off of Sam Raimi’s Send Help, which also used mostly practical effects, hopefully this brief resurgence can hail a return to puppeteering and prosthetics.
Why puppeteering and practical effects are so important
Rocky has the same effect as BB-8 did in 2016 largely because he has a personality, even if he doesn’t have a discernible “face.” James Ortiz, who was both puppeteer and voice for Rocky, spoke with Entertainment Weekly about his involvement in the film.
“So a lot of Rocky’s expressivity, you may notice in the movie that Rocky is almost never completely still in a single shot,” Ortiz said, speaking of that expressiveness fans have come to love from Rocky. “He’s always kind of moving because, if you can imagine, if he raises one leg, his center of gravity will go off-center. So in a funny way, we were always keeping him a little kinetic, a little bit like a bird turning his head constantly, which in turn, I think, helped me find the sort of anxiousness of Rocky.”
Having this human involvement, where things can be modified and changed on the fly, is such a crucial aspect for building a character audiences can emote with. There is a physicality and an autonomy that CGI will never be able to replicate. As Rocky would say: Amaze, amaze, amaze!
(featured image: MGM)
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