Movie Review - Superintelligence

If you look at the films for which Melissa McCarthy was nominated for an Oscar, that of Bridesmaids (2011) and Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018), it's clear that she works better when she's given things to do. It might sound counter-intuitive because as the lead in a film, one would think she has lots to do, but, this film, written by Steve Mallory (The Boss) and directed by Ben Falcone (The Boss and Tammy), doesn't really give McCarthy anything to do. Her character is basically led around by the hand from one place to another and its other characters that get more of the spotlight or shine, as well as most of the comedy. With the exception of one scene, a scene involving a bean bag chair, and one moment, a moment involving Beyoncé, McCarthy doesn't get any funny bits and she's mostly a placeholder for where a protagonist should be.

McCarthy stars as Carol Peters, a woman who lives in Seattle, trying to get a job at some kind of tech company. She's friends with a computer scientist who works at Microsoft. Her friendship to this computer scientist is only significant in that it allows for the second plot to play out conveniently. The thing to know about Carol is that she broke up with a really great guy with whom she was involved for three years. It's been two years since she talked to him, but reconciling with him becomes the focus of this film. One day, Carol goes home and starts to hear a voice talking to her. The voice is coming from her electronic devices. These devices are inhabited by an artificial intelligence that has become sentient and all-powerful. It wants to observe Carol before deciding what to do about humanity, which is never explained why it has to do anything or why it would care. However, its decision would be based on whether Carol can reconcile with her ex-boyfriend.

Bobby Cannavale (Ant-Man and Win Win) co-stars as George, a college professor of creative writing. He's charming and funny. He's lovely and perfect in practically every way. It's revealed that the reason that he and Carol broke up wasn't due to anything he did. She simply walked away from him because of some wayward thought in her head. If she hadn't broken up with him, they would probably still be together. In the two years since the break-up, he apparently hasn't been dating anyone. He's just been single, which seems unlikely that some woman wouldn't have noticed and pursued him. However, now he's planning to take a trip to Ireland in three days, so if Carol is going to reconcile with him, it has to be in those three days.

Her reticence and resistance to be with him is rather unexplored. George doesn't have any issues, so getting back together with him isn't really that difficult. It simply takes some nudging from the artificially intelligent, sentient program, voiced by James Corden (Peter Rabbit and Into the Woods). Unfortunately, it not only nudges her but it also orchestrates pretty much the whole thing. The film does provide scenes of McCarthy and Cannavale together where they get to banter and be cute with each other. It also feels as if the two improvised some of their dialogue. If that's the case, they riff off each other extremely well, making them seem even more charming together. However, without any deeper diving into their relationship and the core of what drove her away, there's nothing substantive to take away from their interactions.

Brian Tyree Henry (Joker and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) also co-stars as Dennis, the best friend to Carol and the aforementioned computer scientist who works at Microsoft. The second plot involves him trying to discover where the artificial intelligence came from and how to stop it, as it's proven itself omnipotent and capable of destroying the world. However, it's very evident that this film isn't Melancholia (2011). It's not going to end with the destruction of humanity. It just feels like Dennis's plot is just padding on this film, given that there's nothing beyond the superficial to explore with Carol and George's relationship.

At least with Dennis, he's given things to do that are more active steps. Carol is literally led around by the hand by the artificial intelligence. It tells her what to do and where to go. It literally pushes her to reconcile with George, but it doesn't require her to put in much effort or do much but sit there. Corden gets the majority of the comedic lines of dialogue. Even in the bantering with Cannavale, Cannavale is the one who gets the lion share of the funny lines and even comedic moments. It's like McCarthy is watching this film unfold from the outside as much as anyone who watches this.

It's all supposed to culminate in an action by Carol that's supposed to be this great act of love. However, it's debatable. The question is if you knew that a person was about to die and nothing could be done to stop it, would you tell that person? Carol knows that the artificial intelligence will destroy the world in a few hours and nothing can stop it. She has to decide to tell George or not. It's debatable whether her telling him is the act of love or not telling him is the act of love. The film seems to suggest that one is the better option and I'm not convinced of its choice.

When it comes to such a monumental thing, George might not want to know or he might want to know. We don't get his opinion on which he would prefer. He might want to be blissfully ignorant or he might want to know, so that he can tell family members, his parents or siblings that he loves them. There might have been other things he would've wanted to settle or at least try to settle. For Carol to not tell him means that she's keeping a secret and secrets between couples have never been proven to be good. Yet, this film doesn't consider those things.

The film references Aladdin (1992) where Carol is in this case Aladdin and the artificial intelligence is the genie. Only Corden isn't as funny as Robin Williams or even Will Smith in the 2019 remake. Thematically, the idea of an omnipotent being interfering in the life, particularly the love life, of a regular person has been done on Star Trek: The Next Generation with the character of Q, played by John de Lancie. Corden isn't even as engaging as de Lancie. I suppose it's enough that this film isn't as dumb or vulgar as Jexi (2019), a similarly premised comedy.

Most people's go-to with an idea like this would probably be to Spike Jonze's Her (2013). However, a favorite of mine is JC Calciano's eCupid (2012), which doesn't rely too much on the artificial intelligence angle and gives its protagonist more agency.

Rated PG for some suggestive material and language.
Running Time: 1 hr. and 45 mins.

Available on HBO Max.