Love Me

After an apocalyptic event, a buoy designed to record water temperature (Kristen Stewart) and a communications satellite (Steven Yeun) are the only sentient beings left on earth. In the opening of "Love Me," they make contact through what remains of the internet. The two start out chatting, relying on their existing programming. Eventually, they create primitive avatars that interact in a world they've created. Both really want this relationship to work. They scan available data sources to discover what it takes to create and sustain a relationship. In a tragic development, Stewart's character, who imaginatively identifies herself as "Me," comes across a too-cute self-absorbed vlogger named Deja, whose relationship with boyfriend Liam is hardly a role model for anything constructive. Fortunately, Yeun's character, called "Iam" (see what they did there?!), isn't into over-sharing.

"Love Me" is the feature film debut for Co-Writers/Co-Directors Sam and Andrew Zuchero, a husband and wife team. For this film, they've obviously developed a bold, audacious and completely unique concept. I wish the ideas here were more fully developed.

It's more than a little ironic that "Love Me," a film so decidedly out-of-the-box, brings to mind so many other works. In its creation and execution, "Love Me" reminds me a little of "Wall-E." In its exploration of what it means to be human, it evokes "The Creator" and "After Yang." The "New York Times" points out that "Love Me" is superficially similar to another current show, the Broadway musical "Maybe Happy Ending." (Full disclosure: my nephew co-wrote the musical.) But while the musical is tightly focused on a couple of key themes - love, death, the risks/rewards of relationships - "Love Me" is all over the place.

This film has a dizzying array of ideas spinning around in its orbit. Perhaps it's just too much, because it fails to explore anything fully. That's too bad, because some of the ideas in "Love Me" show real promise. The film implies that looking to TikTok for relationship advice may not be the best option. Fair point. It clearly supports the notion that before developing a healthy bond with another, one must do the hard work of gaining self-respect and a sense of self-worth. Terrific. "Love Me" also does an excellent job depicting the palpable need for connection with others that occurs when these inanimate objects meet. Inspired. But the film does nothing to excavate these ideas in ways that offer greater depth or a new point of view. As a result, the final product is surprisingly soulless. While I was intrigued to see how this story unfolded, I had no emotional investment in what happened between these two characters.

There are, however, some funny moments. Apparently, the story takes place over six billion years (or 6000 years, if you're a Young Earth Creationist). At one point, Me and Iam become estranged because the buoy sinks and the signal is lost. The two have to wait a few eons for all the water on earth to evaporate so connection can be restored. As they work to rekindle the relationship, Iam observes that he's had several million years to reflect on what's gone wrong in the past and what he really needs in a relationship.

Ultimately, "Love Me" is a wonderful concept that's never fully realized. Although some elements of the film don't work, it's an exhilarating diversion from the steady diet of slasher films and superhero movies Hollywood is force-feeding us. More Zucheros, please!

I can swear that the directors have watched melodysheep on YouTube.

The beginning showing the timeline of earth has a similar feel to their videos on YouTube not even mentioning the font used to show the years.

That's all. Just find it interesting.

Just started watching the movie, let's see how it goes!

I love both Kristen and Steven so this should be a good time. Just filling in the words now for word count. The robots look cute.

Is it decided that the theory of another planet (theia) colliding with earth been adopted as working theory? I don't know

With the asteriod coming in 2032, we will see how it goes.

I should state, it wasn't my intention to even see this film, arrived for what was planned to see late and opted to give it a shot.

It opens with a scene of the bouy in a frozen over ocean next to what looks like the rubble of NYC.

The slow pace of the film has got to be the most painful part of it all. 30 minutes in and I had seen enough to know I couldn't keep watching without dying of sheer boredom!

To be frank, it was so slow and boring we got up and left shortly after another couple left. Wouldn't be surprised to see it streaming in a week.

If you must see it do yourself a favor and stream it. That way when you fall asleep and wake up and hour later you may actually see a portion that is worth watching.

Love Me is a post apocalyptic love story between a smart buoy (voiced by Kristen Stewart) and a satellite (voiced by Yeun) who try to find out what made human beings tick.

That is the concept of love, romance, intimacy. Only these technological objects with artificial intelligence cannot feel it. Even though they try to create human avatars.

First time directors Sam and Andy Zuchero have an off beat screenplay which is a two hander. They cannot pull it off because somehow it felt so derivative of other movies.

I ended up feeling that Pixar just did this better with a movie like Wall-E. That hit the sweet spot.

Google lifespan of solar panels and it shows 25 to 35 years. Even if the panels are super futuristic panels, it still wouldn't last as long as it would in the movie.

Metal degradation alone wouldn't make sense, which is around 150years. Again way shorter than the timeline of the movie.

I haven't even touch on the lifespan of electronics. Even if it's super futuristic, the battery still have a lifespan.

All this is to say the timeline in the movie makes no sense!

The entire premise of the movie is deeply flawed. It's about earth and not a galaxy far far away or a fantasy land with magic and wands to wave away the contemporary impossibles.