Renner, 2025.
Directed by Robert Rippberger.
Starring Frankie Muniz, Violett Beane, Marcia Gay Harden, Taylor Gray, and Craig Lamar Traylor.
SYNOPSIS:
A computer genius invents an A.I life coach to help him find love, but realizes too late he accidentally programmed his manipulative mother into the code.
In an age where isolated, lonely, rich tech bros are one of several threats to democracy, director Robert Rippberger has a tough sell with Renner, an AI cautionary tale centered on a hopelessly self-conscious and insecure germaphobic socially awkward computer programmer desperate for love born out of acceptance. That’s not to generalize that all lonely nerds are the scorned, malicious, and possessive type when it comes to desiring women they deem out of their leagues due to a lack of confidence, but that there is some worry this film released in this political climate could send a misguided message.
These concerns are eased mainly by a convincingly offbeat performance with dorky charm from Frankie Muniz in the eponymous role. His Renner has programmed an AI life coach, Salenus (voiced by Marcia Gay Harden), with a primary directive to encourage him to be more assertive (since confidence is a key component of that trait.) Smartly, the film’s message falls into place, warning against the dangers of allowing AI to dictate someone’s personality rather than rising into self-righteous nerd justice. Renner does not stand in as a positive portrayal of an entire type of person.
Accidentally or not, Renner’s overbearing, strict bully of a mother has been built into that coding. There also happens to be a new neighbor in this clichéd vision of a futuristic high-rise apartment, a building that strangely has no other residents. There is no particular narrative reason for that. This film is limited in scope and budget but makes the most of it through solid ideas and performances. It’s also a pleasantly amusing touch to have Frankie Muniz sometimes looking into the camera when talking to the AI as if he is breaking the fourth wall on Malcolm in the Middle once again. Aesthetically, Salenus is a round glass eyeball-looking robot.
Renner’s new neighbor is the conventionally attractive fitness runner Jamie (Violett Beane), who is warming up to his stunted behavior with the whole dynamic feeling off, most likely intentionally. That’s because the screenplay from David Largman Murray and Martin Medina eventually betrays that sincere interest in exploring these characters, their feelings, and love. As Renner and Jamie continue to connect, meaning they increasingly become more physically intimate, it throws his OCD cleanliness routine into disarray and consistently has him leaving late for work (which means nothing to the viewer since the outside world is never seen here.) Selanus also begins to question Jamie’s motives, potentially getting jealous that he is developing a romantic bond with a human.
That execution is still hampered, expecting viewers to accept this wealthy apartment is a ghost town and presumably a space one of these characters shouldn’t even be able to afford. It’s as if these are the only characters in the film’s universe, which doesn’t help the storytelling. Bluntly put, Renner also crumbles into a predictably lame thriller that, of all things, transitions into a series of physical torture incidents. It’s disappointing that the filmmakers didn’t have confidence in themselves and their leads, abandoning the unexpectedly earnest and grounded humanity in its depiction of a lost loner seeking connection.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★
Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at MetalGearSolid719@gmail.com
