George Powell

Definitely not a deep or complicated sci fi movie but actually getting it correct that AI is good at calculating algorithms but a total failure in the non-algorithmic areas of feeling emotions and having motivation. But aside from getting that correct, it’s totally NOT the motivation for the story arc of the movie. That’s built around the McCarthy’s character’s motivation to have meaning in her life and not getting satisfaction or effects from her, apparently successful earlier career and her consequent destruction of the previously successful relationship that she had before. The gentle-ish sarcasm about her contact at Microsoft and the well intended female version of Joe Biden and his cluelessness about the technology and it’s risks are well done but also superficial to the central plot of the relationship healing. The relationship’s nuances are between two VERY different but complicated, competent people (this is not belabored) who are not caricatures of “right looking” cosmetic appearing actors but beautiful souls with emotional interactions that are pointedly TOTALLY irrelevant to the external plot of either destroying or saving the planet but simultaneously the COMPLETE point and motivation for succeeding and existing as infinitely more complicated (non-algorithmic, this point also not belabored) biological intelligence. The acting between the principals is very very good. The acting otherwise is appropriately clownish and also well done. I think I’m correct in interpreting the writer and director as (somewhat gently again) mocking and actively disparaging the pompous self importance of the political, military and technological characters that only appear to be competent in their “serious” lives. Bless their hearts, they don’t get it. And the irony of the clueless AI having to tell them to celebrate should be appreciated and enjoyed…