Renner is an age-old tale told through a modern lens. The titular computer (Frankie Muniz, Malcolm in the Middle) coder is successful and wealthy, but is unable to find love. He decides to create an AI named Salenus (Marcia Gay Harden, Confess, Fletch)to help him get what he really wants from life. Unfortunately, he accidentally programmed his manipulative mother into the code.
AI is becoming increasingly prevalent in horror and mothers have been a staple of the genre for years. And people have wondered for years what would happen if their overbearing mom was part of an AI life coach. It is a humorous premise that is played with all seriousness. Inevitably, it fails to deliver.
The main problem is with Salenus. As AI villains go, she is somewhere between the evil robots in Short Circuit and the Lawnmower Man. In other words, not very threatening. (Though she does have a very sharp tongue and does look creepy.) Salenus fares much better in the final act, but by then it is too little, too late.
The actual humans in Renner do not suffer from the same issue. While the title character may be a little too much of an “awkward genius”, Muniz does a good job in the role. Violett Beane is also great as Renner’s love interest. The story also gets better as it goes along, culminating in some dark twists in the third act.
The film also looks good. It may not be set in a dystopian future, but Renner has the sterile and futuristic look that is often found in those movies. There is a lot to like here, but the lack of a strong rogue AI is very noticeable.
You must be logged in to post a comment.