What if you could design your perfect match from scratch? Someone precisely tailored to your type, programmed to shower you with compliments, designed to meet all your needs, be it breakfast in bed, a shoulder to cry on, or great s*x.
The only catch is that they are robots. Would that be a breach of contract? This question is at the heart of the German conceptual comedy “I’m Your Man,” The star of the perfect cast, Dan Stevens, is a dreamer with a few flaws.
While this critically acclaimed host brings a lot of personality to the robot role, the most significant advantage of this captivating film is how it morphs from a mischievous Romana man into something more philosophical but no less entertaining.
With the actions of a bot meeting girl, I’m Your Man begins with a familiar rom-com dynamic.
Alma (Maren Egert) is a single career woman, an academic with no interest in love. She can dance, quote poetry, and stand up with ease. The irresponsible Tom (Stevens) is a bad boy who wants to change that and pays attention to him.
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However, Alma knew early on that Tom was an Android working on algorithms meant to be fun. So answered his attempts to try him clinically. He was asked to try it for three weeks and then provide an assessment that could determine whether the AI engine could earn the right to marry, work, and live in a world with people.
Such a dream man looks like the complete opposite of Stevens, who first broke through as Matthew Crowley’s romantic character in Downton Abbey. Stevens escaped the wildly popular series, however, to immerse himself in far more risky projects. Such as the comedies “Kahlo”, “Colossal”, the horror-thriller films “The Guest”, “Crazy Hat” at Eurovision.
“The Story from The Fire Saga “and the drunken animated fantasy series”. Kipo and the Age of Wonderful Beasts “(in which he plays a mad and tyrannical mandrill named Scarlet the Great). Play a dreamer.
His Tom has been a tricky critic of the concept. She is charming, intelligent and talented. But her charm says it all. His expertise comes from wireless Internet access. His generosity is not an option but a commandment: make Alma happy, But what does it mean when happiness is created through simulation?
Alma immediately resented the idea that everyone:
Although maybe, especially him – he can get quickly enough. Tom insists that he wants to be his partner but also casually mentions that he can’t afford to want anything.
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He cannot feel, and therefore he cannot love. It is a powerful application designed to fulfil deep human needs. And a million lot more complex desires. But even if he hated what Tom’s existence meant to mankind.
Alma longes to be held, to be seen, to be told that loved him. Even though he faints, I’m Your Man never makes us forget that Tom is not the man of her dreams but a robot.
To make this point clear, the film does not use significant sci-fi performances, such as sparks or Ex Machina-style metal links. Tom’s appearance is very human, so calm, but so much fun that you can guess. But co-writer/director Maria Schrader isn’t letting us off the hook.
Stevens’ performances are persistent but subtly reminiscent of Tom’s fakes. The movements are too smooth to feel natural. Tom has seen posing, but effortlessly, like a dummy, masterfully staged, whether set in a bathrobe or lounging on the couch.
Meanwhile, Alma struggles with his longing for what Tom could be and what he is. Eggert embodies this inner conflict with real cooking fear and anger. By portraying Tom as brilliant and patient in the face of anger, Stevens proved his perfect match.
I’m Your Man is a thought-provoking but big-hearted comedy. That explores what it means to be human. Despite its sublime content, co-writer/director Maria Schrader keeps the comedy fresh and profoundly irreverent.
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Leading actress Maren Egert described the film as a brutal cynic who doesn’t believe that you can find love with robots. However, Dan Stevens provides an interesting counterargument and plays a bot that is no doubt tempting. Together this trio creates an extraordinary film that is ambitious, human and often humorous.
