KLARA AND THE SUN
Starring: Jenna Ortega, Amy Adams, Mia Tharia, Aran Murphy, Steve Buscemi, and Natasha Lyonne
Director: Taika Waititi
ADRIANO
I’m not a Taika Waititi hater, despite his last two misses. But Klara and the Sun is strike three. While it’s got a nice heart buried underneath there somewhere, it seems as though Waititi is now too insecure to get sentimental and must undercut every dramatic beat with unfunny humour. By the time the movie's over and he has to make his points, he has no other choice but to just beat us over the head with the message. Add to that some very lofty world-building and weak performances (Jenna Ortega tries at least), and we have a well-intentioned wash.
JANE
Klara and the Sun gets points from me for its bright, saturated color palette (bring color back to movies!) and... not much else. Its warning about replacing human connection with AI companionship, to the detriment of both, is increasingly relevant, but for a film meant to explore complex relationships, it struck me as strangely artificial. Jenna Ortega's Klara, an Artificial Friend, seems more human than the people surrounding her, whose performances are nearly wooden. Even if that emotional distance is deliberate, I didn’t find it convincing. Then again, perhaps my frustration comes from watching this particular morality tale begin to play out in real life.
