Klara and the Sun Review

Directed By: Taika Waititi
Written By: Taika Waititi and Dahvi Waller; Based on the book by Kazuo Ishiguro
Runtime: 116 minutes
MPA Rating: Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some violence, and strong language.

Jenna Ortega – Klara
Amy Adams – Chrissie
Mia Tharia – Josie
Rachel House – Melania
Natasha Lyonne – Store Manager
Aran Murphy – Rick
Steve Buscemi – Capaldi

Director Taika Waititi adapts Kazuo Ishiguro’s bestselling novel about an android who yearns for love and companionship in Klara and the Sun. Despite some interesting ideas and solid actors, Waititi can’t quite pull off this premise.

The story concerns Klara, an outdated, discontinued model in the movie’s future setting. Following a world war, digital devices and the internet are now outlawed. Humans have instead replaced their smartphones with physical AI-bots, or artificial friends, AFs for short, as they’re called in the movie.

Klara’s line of B13 android models can’t compete with the popularity of the new updated AFs. They have the mind and intelligence of toddlers, but Klara even stands out as someone rather unique among her fellow AFs. She’s inquisitive about the world, and she watches in awe when she sees a couple show their casual love for each other.

Also, since Klara charges from solar energy, she worships the sun like her god, believing it to be a being of life and nourishment. She also can’t stop standing on one leg.

One day, Klara makes a connection with a young teenager, Josie (Tharia), who eventually convinces her mother to buy Klara as her new AF. Josie is a genetically enhanced human, undergoing a process called “lifted,” which makes humans into genetic superbeings, setting them up for higher schooling and professional standing later in life.

Klara immediately takes to doing her best to become a devoted companion for Josie, much to the chagrin of Krissie and her skeptical housekeeper Melania. Unfortunately, Josie’s lifting procedure holds some negative side effects, but Klara’s childlike sense of wonderment might hold the key to healing Josie and her family.

Taika Waititi’s penchant for quirky and off-beat humor fails to vibe with Kazuo Ishiguro’s source material. Jenna Ortega certainly tries, delivering a spirited performance as this surprisingly naive, pure-hearted android.

Unfortunately, Waititi’s attempts at humor generally fall flat. Most of the humor focuses on Klara’s technological defects. Her visual senses struggle to adjust to new spaces, so when she enters a large wheat field, she becomes discombobulated. She struggles to simply walk up or down stairs as well.

The jokes with Klara adjusting to her new environment or comprehending the human experience fall woefully flat or appear excessively forced in execution.

The other problem is that the plot hinges on what’s meant to be an endearing bond between Josie and Klara. However, the bond never truly comes to life onscreen. Klara says she loves Josie and appears emotionally attached to her, but their scenes and lack of chemistry fail to truly ignite the relationship.

This is not to say the actors are bad or not trying, but their characters do suffer from a lack of development. Amy Adams’ character undergoes a very ambivalent arc that really needed to be fleshed out more.

Elsewhere, Klara and the Sun suffers from tonal whiplash. The movie attempts to maintain an almost cheerfully optimistic, family movie narrative, but it comes out of step with the story’s darker elements, along with the more dystopian aspects of the setting. Waititi appears unsure of the movie he wanted to make here, and his directorial vision never truly coalesces with the material.

Klara and the Sun does feature some interesting production and design attributes. The world-building elements interestingly depict technology regressing to a degree where robotics are heavily advanced, replacing smartphones, while other digital devices and WiFi technology have essentially become outlawed. The technological regression, with devices being far more tactile and large, looks visually interesting.

The intent with Klara and the Sun looks clear. Waititi attempts a type of heartwarming, bittersweet story about friendship with a sci-fi premise, but it never feels natural. Despite Klara’s steadfast belief in the life-giving sun, the story never comes alive.

Where To Watch Klara and the Sun

Klara and the Sun arrives in theaters on October 23. Ticket and showtime information can be found on the movie’s website.

4.5

The final score: review Poor

The 411

Klara and the Sun features elements of an earnest, albeit flawed attempt at an artificial being who yearns for love and has seemingly achieved true sentience. Unfortunately, Taika Waititi's style and sensibility can't bring his adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's bestselling book to life. The attempts at humor fall flat, and the characters and relationships feel melodramatic and forced. Klara and the Sun wants to be a prestige picture but badly misses the mark.