“I’m Your Man,” a German robot dramedy starring Dan Stevens and Maren Eggert, strikes the perfect note between whimsical romance and philosophical depth. The film is playing at the Crescent Theater in Mobile through October 22.
Stevens, known for his role as Matthew on “Downton Abbey,” plays Tom, an idealized humanoid companion created to be the perfect partner. Maren Eggert plays Alma, a scientist who agrees to test pilot Tom’s suitability as a mate in exchange for research funding.
A Charming Exploration of AI and Romance
Tom was programmed to be Alma’s ideal based on a detailed series of questions and a sophisticated algorithm that learns from her reactions. Those reactions, from a skeptical realist with no more illusions about romance, are a vital ingredient in the film’s magic.
Stevens’ German-language performance is charming and droll, with a knowing gleam in his eye that completely sells the film’s concept. Some of Tom’s calculated attempts to woo Alma misfire hilariously, like when he draws her a bubble bath surrounded by candles. When she scoffs, the next scene shows sweet, affable Tom checking out the experience himself.
But Tom does not remain entirely naive. His profound, robotic intellectual capabilities prove more attractive than his romantic ones. He becomes a valuable research assistant for Alma’s project, and moments when Alma doubts her own resistance to him are genuinely moving.
Philosophical Questions with a Light Touch
“I’m Your Man” poses legitimate questions about the nature of happiness and satisfaction. Alma posits dissatisfaction as a necessary ingredient to life, but as she gets closer to Tom, the possibilities become truly bewitching.
Like the film “Her,” the movie asks if happiness and love really “count” if they come from an artificial source. Director Maria Schrader (“Unorthodox”) is fully in control of the story throughout, making it remarkably well-calibrated, delicately veering from droll to serious.
The ending is perfect — wistful, romantic, intelligent, considered and deeply human. “I’m Your Man” is playing at the Crescent Theater through October 21 and streaming on demand.