A scene from ‘I’m Your Man’

Review: ‘I’m Your Man’ is an experiment in love with promising results

‘I’m Your Man’ is an unconventional portrait of a woman who empirically lives with a humanoid robot and finds the answer to what makes someone human is not as black-and-white as she once thought.

As the world evolves, technology continues to become further ingrained in every aspect of our lives. From the everyday of using a touchscreen cash register to the more advanced instruments used for microsurgery, these tools improve speed, convenience and accuracy. However, the integration into our personal lives has progressed slower for many, keeping it at arm’s length for various reasons. Yet, countless people have turned to online dating websites and algorithms to find their perfect match, but for some finding the one seems like an endless journey of energy consumption and heartbreak. That’s where I’m Your Man fills the gap.

In the not-too-distant future, Alma (Maren Eggert) is a scientist on the verge of a major breakthrough. However, to secure more funding and play nice with her employers, she agrees to a three-week assessment of the latest in robotics and A.I. technology — an android companion programmed to be the perfect mate. She meets Tom (Dan Stevens) in a uniquely normal date setting before he moves in, eager to fulfill her every need and desire. However, Alma is not a lovelorn single and his presence is more of an inconvenience and intrusion than an answer to her prayers. She also has difficulty treating him like a person rather than an android, even though he is visually flawless. But, as Tom is programmed to adapt, he learns to embrace her disdain in the hopes that he will eventually endear himself to her.

This is the epitome of the 21st (22nd?) century love story. The idea of finding one’s match in an artificial lifeform is not unusual, with Her being one of the greatest human-computer romances in recent memory, but this narrative is slightly different because its protagonist is not looking for love. She was in a long-term relationship previously, so it’s not that she’s incapable of finding a partner. But she has difficulty accepting that anyone could replace the love of a human being with the affections of a robot, no matter how real they act and appear. Tom, on the other hand, is fully self-aware — not always the case in these types of stories — and understands his artificialness is an obstacle for Alma.

Their interactions are generally very amusing as Tom often responds to Alma’s sarcasm or disparagement with blunt honesty and exactitude. In addition to providing humour to otherwise unpleasant conversations, it’s one of the few regular reminders that Tom is in fact an A.I. and although he can have hurt feelings, he can mend them just as quickly. The rapport between Eggert and Stevens (who surprises with his fluency in German) is excellent as they’re able to play these opposing but complementary personalities very well. Thus, audiences have to earn their coming together with the knowledge that even if it happens, it may be temporary due to the nature of their arrangement.

Director: Maria Schrader
Starring: Maren Eggert, Dan Stevens and Sandra Hüller

Similar Posts

  • Review: ‘The Assassin’ presents a strong, silent female hero (Includes first-hand account)

    While female heroes are still an uncommon occurrence in cinema, they are more prevalent in some genres than others. Martial arts pictures boast a number of women protagonists who prove capable in a variety of circumstances, including physical altercations. Whether on a mission of revenge or attempting to complete a quest, these women match the proficiency of their male counterparts and fulfill their requirements as hero to a tee. The Assassin features one of these female action stars.

  • Review: ‘The Salesman’ discovers justice can have its own consequences (Includes first-hand account)

    No matter how long or solid a relationship, many find it difficult to survive a trauma. The stress to deal with it and get past it can be unbearable; particularly if one person is more readily able to do so than the other. This uneven response to their shared experience can foster resentment on both sides and cause them to slowly drift apart. In The Salesman, audiences are introduced to a couple who have trouble coping with the aftermath of a home invasion.

  • Review: ‘Weiner’ is an intimate portrait of a man who defies privacy (Includes first-hand account)

    There are certain jobs that inherently put people in the public eye. However, this can be a double-edged sword as both their virtues and mistakes are widely scrutinized by the world at large. The latter deeds are obviously the more troublesome as what would often be a private matter is splashed across the front page. For the inconveniently named former congressman Anthony Weiner, his poor judgement would repeatedly impact his personal and professional life. The aptly titled documentary, Weiner, chronicles how the crisis was managed behind the scenes.

  • Review: ‘Sausage Party’ doesn’t know the meaning of taboo (Includes first-hand account)

    While carnivores are aware the meat they consume was once a living creature, in most cases it’s safe to assume they’re no longer alive once meal preparation begins (save for shellfish, poor things). However, this is not even a question with most other products available at the supermarket, such as produce, baked goods and especially manufactured items. These things never had a conscience and therefore are unaware of their fates as consumables… but what if they were cognisant? Sausage Party explores the horror they’d experience if they discovered the true fates of the chosen.

  • Review: ‘Moana’ isn’t letting anything stand between her and her mission (Includes first-hand account)

    Disney has always been ahead of the curve when it came to featuring female protagonists in their animated features. However, more importantly, the types of women portrayed and their narrative trajectories have evolved over the years; though it’s been most noticeable in the last decade. The princess is no longer hunting for a husband or waiting for a prince to save her from her evil relatives or a witch’s spell — she’s going on dangerous quests and vowing to save others. She has become the master of her own destiny and found the strength within herself to accomplish great things. Moana is the epitome of this evolution.