Kazuo Ishiguro's 2021 novel 'Klara and the Sun' was longlisted for the Booker Prize and appeared on many best-of lists that year. A story about an AI robot learning the meaning of life isn't groundbreaking, especially in 2026, but the novel was critically acclaimed for its reflection on what it means to be human. Every popular book is legally required for a film adaptation, and Ishiguro's novel is no exception. So, in comes director Taika Waititi to bring 'Klara and the Sun' to the big screen... an odd pairing, but does this strange coupling work?
The film follows Klara (Jenna Ortega, 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice', 'Death of a Unicorn'), an A.F. (Artificial Friend) with dream of finding the perfect human companion. She is an old model, so is struggling to sell - that is, until she meets Josie (Mia Tharia, TV's 'Phoenix Rise'). While Josie's mum, Chrissie ('Dear Evan Hansen', Amy Adams, 'Arrival'), is hesitant at first, she purchases her for her daughter when she sees how much joy Klara brings her. When Klara moves in, she struggles to adjust to the family dynamic and learns that human life is rather complex.
SWITCH: 'KLARA AND THE SUN' TRAILER
'Klara and the Sun' never achieves what it sets out to do. It's a bloated blend of genres, and its characters and messaging get lost in the mix. It tries to go for too much - a comedy, a dystopian sci-fi, a family drama, a reflection on the human experience - but it never pulls it off. Its characters are so disconnected and underdeveloped; even Klara and Josie spend so little time together that we never really experience what they learn from one another. It's a very surface-level movie, and for a topic so overdone, it comes across as a boring sit.
'Klara and the Sun' never achieves what it sets out to do. It's a bloated blend of genres, and its characters and messaging get lost in the mix. It tries to go for too much - a comedy, a dystopian sci-fi, a family drama, a reflection on the human experience - but it never pulls it off.
Jenna Ortega gives her all to Klara, but the script doesn't give her much to do. She is a ray of sunshine and I need her to find a film that matches her acting ability. Amy Adams, on the other hand, is so miscast; the film is partly at fault for using her so little, but she also feels like she is sleepwalking through it.
'Klara and the Sun' and Taika Waititi are not a perfect match. It throws too much at you, so its message gets lost, and you leave feeling empty. Some moments work, but they are so far apart that, in between, the movie needed much more energy.