Sundance 2024: Robot romance story 'Love Me' falls short of its narrative potential

SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Love Me
3 out of 5 Stars
Directors: Sam Zuchero, Andy Zuchero
Writers: Sam Zuchero, Andy Zuchero
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Steven Yeun
Category: U.S. Dramatic Competition
Genre: Drama, Romance, Comedy

Festival Synopsis: the love story of a smart buoy and an orbiting satellite that spans a billion years and probes the mysteries of being and consciousness requires legit storytelling dexterity.

Review: Imagine a distant future where the last remnant of humanity is the vastness of the internet. In this future place a robot buoy wakes as the frozen sea around them melts. Greeted by a satellite who is programed to welcome life forms that visit the wasteland of what was Earth, the buoy is introduced to the internet. The buoy discovers YouTube and uses it to understand what it is to be a life form. The buoy is drawn to and identifies with a particular vlogger and her husband (Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun).

Buoy names themself Me and takes the female form from the YouTube videos and assigns the satellite the male form and the name I Am.

The pair meet in a virtual space based on the apartment in the YouTube videos. Me wants to shape I Am into the husband in the Youtube videos. I Am, who knows nothing about the videos, resists and questions everything.

The film uses a mix of animation and live action as it follows Me and I Am as they progress through their relationship and personal self-discoveries.

Do we want a life full of forced laughter and product placement? Or do we want something authentic?

Kristen Stewart is fantastic, and Stephen Yuen is on par. The script feels too simplistic. It’s like when I watched the animated film 2005 “Robots” and was disappointed to find that it was a film about robots acting like people. I already know what that looks like. There is some social commentary, but not nearly as much as I expected.

As to why this video and only this video out of millions becomes the bedrock of what it is to be a life form isn’t really explained. I think it needs to be.

Ultimately, “Love Me”is pleasant but too straightforward and familiar to be effective. Those looking for some kind of epiphany will leave disappointed.