Spoiler Warning: In the second-to-last paragraph, I hint at the film's ending. While I don't think knowing what happens ahead of time will in any way ruin HER, those who want a completely "fresh" movie-going experience may want to back out now and read this later. Your choice.
With his fourth directorial outing, Spike Jonze has officially become one of those filmmakers you watch for and become excited for his projects. Whether he's adapting someone else's work (like Adaptation and Where the Wild Things Are), or cutting his movies from original cloth (like here and his awesome debut film, Being John Malkovich), his films are worth the wait for true movie-lovers. In a world of pre-packaged entertainment, Her is a breath of fresh air. By turns very funny and deeply moving and filled to the brim with thought-provoking material about our need to connect in an intrapersonal, technology-driven world, it's safe to say there's nothing else like this out there. The maxim "There's nothing new under the sun" may have met its match.
Her opens in a not-so-distant future version of Los Angeles. Thodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix) is a writer who earns a living writing personal letters from one stranger to another. He's frequently lauded for his work and has a few close friends, but there's something empty within Theodore. His ever-present lonliness, driven in large part by a divorce he's going through with his ex-wife, Catherine (Rooney Mara), is what prompts him to take the plunge and purchase an Operating System for his computer and smartphone. He chooses a female voice and is greeted by "Samantha" (voice of Scarlett Johansson). While the technology is largely intended to be something of a personal assistant for work files, Theodore and Samantha hit it off, and he discovers, much to his delight, that this AI seems to "get" him more than any "real" woman does.
As crazy as it sounds, a romantic relationship with an AI reveals plenty of universal human truths. Theodore and Samantha go through all of the expected sign posts, including a honeymoon phase (complete with a tastefully done virtual "sex scene"), double-dates with friends, an attempt to add a little "spice" to their relationship (in the person of a young woman acting as a "surrogate sexual partner"), and a fight. When Theodore's platonic best friend, video game designer Amy (Amy Adams), learns about his relationship, she reacts with curiosity rather than disdain, as does one of his co-workers. It's actually kind of refreshing to see supporting characters in a story like this be supportive rather than unnecessary complications.
As befitting of a movie with science fiction influences, Her is replete with social commentary. One could look at this movie as an example of where our society might be headed; how often in public places do you see scores of people playing with their smartphones, disconnected from the world around them? This movie possibly represents the next logical step by depicting individuals out in public conversing with their personal AIs.
Joaquin Phoenix is the glue that holds Her together. He's in every scene and he's an easy character to like and want the best for. Jonze's frequent, lengthy close-ups of the actor's face during conversations with Samantha are also extremely effective in making us feel like we're getting inside his head. Meanwhile, Scarlett Johansson has been drawing raves for her voice acting as Samantha, and it's easy to see why. The character may be an AI, but Johansson gives her personality and depth beyond the printed page; Samantha really does feel like a flesh and blood character.
Her is primarily a drama, but early on, it contains some of the most explosively funny scenes of any 2013 movie. A "phone sex" scene between Theodore and a chat room stranger goes to some very bizarre places, and a controller-free video game involving a swearing blue alien is a nonstop laugh-riot. Her lags a bit pace-wise toward the end of its second act, but it rebounds with a final act some will find heartbreaking. This is the way Her has to end. One of the film's most dominant themes is that there's no way to escape personal accountability in a relationship. Theodore finds it liberating to be with Samantha, thinking that the lack of a flesh-and-blood human being couldn't possibly have a downside, but we all know better.
Her is one of the most original, unique, and emotionally resonant movies of 2013. Its themes and visual style slide right into Spike Jonze's repertoire, and anyone who adored his previous three outings are sure to lap up this one as well. We need more movies like Her. Sure, it has legitimate Oscar aspirations, but watching this movie, I felt the sense that Jonze has actually made the film he wanted to make rather than simply casting his line hoping for awards to bite. Her hooks the viewer intellectually and emotionally from start to finish.
Rating: ***1/2 (out of ****)
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