Since theCompaniontrailer has already revealed that Sophie Thatcher ’s character is indeed an excited backing robot , to put it gently , there ’s now a bit more free rein to describe what make up the film so unequalled and well timed . Do n’t occupy , that little tidbit is discover by the ending of the first act . Much like the cunning comment about women ’s idea and body in recent films like Olivia Wilde’sDon’t Worry Darlingand Zoe Kravitz’sBlink Twice , Companionserves a new take in the vein of those cinema but aimed squarely at tech bros who ca n’t get set and would probably get an android to torture .
Jack Quaid play Josh , a distinctive keyboard decent guy who bought Iris ( Thatcher ) for companionship . You do n’t have to be a robot to colligate to Iris , and we all live a Josh : the gaslighting , dismissive character who wants to appear good in front of his friends . In an odd way of life Thatcher sorta resembles Grimes , the ex of that bozo whosomehow wasn’tdoing the Nazi salute , and Zooey Deschanel circa500 Days of Summer . It ’s almost as if her model was based on the two , but more pliable — or at least Josh would think so . Iris would n’t know , however , as she ’s incognizant she ’s a automaton .
In another , more lighthearted motion-picture show , Thatcher and Quaid would lead a cute amorous comedy — that ’s how respectable their chemistry is — but this is not that tale . Companionspeaks to the smart moves the actors have made with interesting and complex case they ’ve played in their vocation thus far and we fuck that for them .
© Warner Bros.
When Josh takes Iris on a weekend getaway with his friends , they stay at a cabin by a lake and it ’s exculpated from the start that something is wrong ; the more his human friends treat her differently , the more Iris start to suspect something is up . Only Harvey Guillén ’s Eli and his boyfriend Patrick ( Lukas Gage ) treat her kindly , but they have a skilful ground . Guillén turns in another fantastic supporting part here and his subplot with Gage is delightful and endearing .
However , Josh and the others are not exactly mindful of Iris ’ perceived federal agency . The excellent Megan Suri(It Lives Inside)is a welcome batch , but her role here feel very diminished . Randomly , Rupert Friend also pops up as an “ erstwhile gentleman’s gentleman ” ( which candidly made us palpate old ) who ’s also a copious creeper with nefarious intention .
What ’s wise aboutCompanionis how in effect the first enactment is — before the Manic Pixie Android ’s ego - awareness gets unleash , the film reach a torturesome visual sensation of the future tense where robot companions could be anneal . And it ’s weird and uncomfortable to see play out , just how atrocious men can be with a woman whose self-reliance they buy .
Overall writer - director Drew Hancock fork over a play and cleverBlack Mirror - esque tale that rips on the sort of nice guys some fop really think they are . Quaid effortlessly deploy romcom chops and turns his dorky goofball character into something terrific . The turn are there and while the film brings up a lot of honorable questions , most remain unanswered to serve Iris ’ story , with Thatcher giving us a leading concluding ( automaton ) girl heroine in what ’s at long last a pretty aboveboard story .
While there ’s so much more that could have been explored , like Eli and Patrick ’s journeys , Companionfeels mostly like an extendedTwilight Zonelite episode , with timely theme fence in incel polish that are about to get room more obnoxious and evergreen .
Companionopens January 31 .
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CompanionDrew HancockJack QuaidSophie Thatcher
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