Love Me

Love Me is one of those great movies that refuses to leave your brain. It raises so many interesting questions and answers none of them. You end up thinking about the concepts long after you see the movie.

So I give the movie two reviews.

UPON FIRST WATCHING: 🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠 (5/10) Interesting, but kinda weak... Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun are really good, but just where was this story going, and did it get there, and do we care?

AFTER 24 HOURS: 🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠 (10/10) One of the most intriguing, thought provoking, emotionally exciting science fiction movies ever written!! Can AI evolve? Will individual devices become independent thinking beings?

And, with all of the wisdom, the writings, the creations, of the entire human civilization, would AI really use social media from which to learn? And, OMG, is that where future generations of people will learn about humanity?

Saw the preview for this opening night and immediately found a flood of suspicious activity on its IMDb page. Perfect scores make up Fifty-Three percent of the tallies on a primarily experimental exercise. This film experiments the rigging of social media avatars to the inception of general intelligence between two "smart-devices". Two AI have trouble separating social media clickbait from their base coding. The first instance being a buoy attempting to replicate the greeting from an "AI assistant" satellite. It's kind of cute listening to communicative coding attempt an introduction to a beautiful backdrop of star above vast ocean. However, the movie quickly devolves into a geriatric guessing game of how to manipulate visual charm to an audience. I don't think the screenwriter and director were ever in the same room because the script felt like a diary of a woman who has never had an original expression cross her mind when socializing. There's a glaring sophomoric gloss of how language is picked up, including understanding of colloquial humor in phrasing of speech. Cannot help but feel this was written by a student straight out of film school.

Maybe this isn't for most people, but such experimental existential love stories are something I'll always admire. Through the love story between a satellite and a water buoy in the dystopian future, they have managed to show a lot of issues people face today. It especially felt real for people with trauma or who are neurodivergent. The way "Me" tries to imitate the love and happiness of people from the past to feel something, and how "Iam" learns how to feel through that, were incredibly relatable thought processes, even though the situations were not. Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun gave incredible performances on top of all that. And I guess, this is what people say, "it's like a Black Mirror episode," even though I haven't seen Black Mirror.

After an apocalyptic event, a buoy designed to record water temperature (Kristen Stewart) and a communications satellite (Steven Yeun) are the only sentient beings left on earth. In the opening of "Love Me," they make contact through what remains of the internet. The two start out chatting, relying on their existing programming. Eventually, they create primitive avatars that interact in a world they've created. Both really want this relationship to work. They scan available data sources to discover what it takes to create and sustain a relationship. In a tragic development, Stewart's character, who imaginatively identifies herself as "Me," comes across a too-cute self-absorbed vlogger named Deja, whose relationship with boyfriend Liam is hardly a role model for anything constructive. Fortunately, Yeun's character, called "Iam" (see what they did there?!), isn't into over-sharing.

"Love Me" is the feature film debut for Co-Writers/Co-Directors Sam and Andrew Zuchero, a husband and wife team. For this film, they've obviously developed a bold, audacious and completely unique concept. I wish the ideas here were more fully developed.

It's more than a little ironic that "Love Me," a film so decidedly out-of-the-box, brings to mind so many other works. In its creation and execution, "Love Me" reminds me a little of "Wall-E." In its exploration of what it means to be human, it evokes "The Creator" and "After Yang." The "New York Times" points out that "Love Me" is superficially similar to another current show, the Broadway musical "Maybe Happy Ending." (Full disclosure: my nephew co-wrote the musical.) But while the musical is tightly focused on a couple of key themes - love, death, the risks/rewards of relationships - "Love Me" is all over the place.

This film has a dizzying array of ideas spinning around in its orbit. Perhaps it's just too much, because it fails to explore anything fully. That's too bad, because some of the ideas in "Love Me" show real promise. The film implies that looking to TikTok for relationship advice may not be the best option. Fair point. It clearly supports the notion that before developing a healthy bond with another, one must do the hard work of gaining self-respect and a sense of self-worth. Terrific. "Love Me" also does an excellent job depicting the palpable need for connection with others that occurs when these inanimate objects meet. Inspired. But the film does nothing to excavate these ideas in ways that offer greater depth or a new point of view. As a result, the final product is surprisingly soulless. While I was intrigued to see how this story unfolded, I had no emotional investment in what happened between these two characters.

There are, however, some funny moments. Apparently, the story takes place over six billion years (or 6000 years, if you're a Young Earth Creationist). At one point, Me and Iam become estranged because the buoy sinks and the signal is lost. The two have to wait a few eons for all the water on earth to evaporate so connection can be restored. As they work to rekindle the relationship, Iam observes that he's had several million years to reflect on what's gone wrong in the past and what he really needs in a relationship.

Ultimately, "Love Me" is a wonderful concept that's never fully realized. Although some elements of the film don't work, it's an exhilarating diversion from the steady diet of slasher films and superhero movies Hollywood is force-feeding us. More Zucheros, please!

Love Me (2024) is a stunningly heartfelt film that delivers a profound exploration of love, loss, and redemption. Steven Yeun's performance is nothing short of extraordinary; he brings an emotional depth and authenticity that resonates deeply, making every scene feel raw and genuine. The story unfolds with a delicate balance of humor and poignancy, supported by a beautifully crafted script and breathtaking cinematography. The direction is masterful, guiding the narrative with subtlety and grace while keeping the audience emotionally invested throughout.

The film's score enhances every moment, immersing the audience in its emotional landscape, and the supporting cast contributes equally compelling performances, creating a rich tapestry of relationships and emotions. Every element, from the nuanced dialogue to the visually striking imagery, feels meticulously designed to leave a lasting impact. Love Me is not just a film-it's an experience that lingers long after the credits roll, reminding us of the power of connection and the resilience of the human spirit. A perfect 10/10.