PalCinema Review: Love Me

January 29, 2025

FILM: LOVE ME

DIRECTED BY: SAM & ANDY ZUCHERO

STARRING: KRISTEN STEWART, STEVEN YEUN

RATING: 3 ½ out of 4 stars

By Dan Pal

Who are we? What have we become? Have we been influenced by the internet and social media? Can we really know our authentic selves? Those are some of the questions asked in the very original and insightful film by writers/directors Sam and Andy Zuchero. It features an amalgamation of film styles, animation, CGI, and live action. It’s also a very interesting dissection of being true to ourselves both in and out of relationships.

The premise is a bit bizarre: after Earth has become extinct, a lone buoy and a satellite make contact. They are trying to understand what humans were. Their primary source of information comes from remaining internet data. They become fascinated by a couple of reality stars, Deja and Liam. Do those characters reflect true human interactions? The buoy takes on Deja as an avatar while the satellite becomes Liam. They are wonderfully voiced and played by Kristen Stewart and Steven Yeun respectively.

The film explores many of the above questions but from the perspective of future technology. If it looks back on our planet what will it see? How will it interpret what we left behind? But even in this context the film becomes a fascinating look at how we define ourselves. The buoy in particular becomes enamored with Deja and all she represents. She essentially tries to become Deja. Liam views it all as fake. Who are they really? It raises some really interesting points. Do we really want to be like what we see on the internet? If we take on all of the qualities, whether they include body types, facial characteristics, etc., do these then establish or hide our real identities?

I think this exploration is particularly relevant in today’s world where many people choose to spend inordinate amounts of time disguised as avatars online. Perhaps they bring out parts of ourselves that aren’t given the opportunity to blossom in real life. Essentially the film is saying, “be who you want to be,” while also questioning whether such creations reflect authentic parts of ourselves. Do we become something so that people like us?

The actors are both excellent and they have the chance to develop their characters in a variety of interesting ways. It’s great to hear their voices initially and then see them in human form playing reality stars. By the end of the film though they’ve become much deeper characters. There are a couple of wonderful explosive scenes in which their true passions are given a cathartic release.

The technical elements of the film are also stellar. This is a visual feast accompanied by a beautiful piano driven score that reflects the loneliness and emotions of both characters.

Some have compared the film to Wall E. and I guess that is a fair comparison. However, I think Love Me zeros in on our own identity perceptions and anxieties today. It’s not making larger statements about what caused humanity’s extinction but how we as individuals might look from a distant future’s perspective.

Love Me opens theatrically this week.

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