Directed by Maria Schrader
Written by: Maria Schrader, Jan Schomberg
Starring: Maren Eggert, Dan Stevens, Sandra Hüller, Hans Löw
MPAA Rating: R 
Runtime: 102 minutes
In select theaters October 1st and On Demand and Digital October 12th

by Victoria Potenza, Staff Writer

There have been plenty of films in recent years that have tried to delve into human relationships with robots and A.I.  Her & Ex Machina both explore what it can be like to spend time with and maybe even fall for an A.I. While these films all vary in tone, they typically revolve around a human man and a non-human woman. Maria Schrader’s film I’m Your Man flips the script while also being a sci-fi rom-com. This is a unique, fun, and very moving story that I have not stopped thinking about since I watched it. 

I’m Your Man centers around Alma and a recently divorced woman who puts all her time and energy into her research project. When an opportunity to bring some much needed funds to her project she jumps at the opportunity. However what she agrees to is something she quickly regrets; she agrees to test out a robot designed to be her soul mate. She is paired with a robot named David who quickly moves in and turns her world upside down. Alma is resistant to this new opportunity for love but David quickly gets under her skin and she has to decide if she is ready to open herself up to this new man-made love. 

The main draw to this film for me was its leading man Dan Stevens. I have been a fan since his Downton Abbey days and I have enjoyed watching the roles he has taken on since then. From The Guest, to his roles in High Maintenance, The Rental and Apostle he has proven himself to be someone who can play a variety of roles. His commitment to genre films in particular has always intrigued me so seeing him in this German Sci-fi film was a real treat. He is one of the most interested actors out there and provides an incredible performance as the robot lover David. Not only does he get to be the charming leading man, he also gets to try and play a robot with all of its quirks and occasional misfires. 

Stevens and Maren Eggert have incredible chemistry and it is charming to watch them get to know eachother even with all of the barriers they face. Maren Eggert brings so much depth to the character of Alma. It is easy to understand Alma’s resistance, her pain, and her struggles. There is a very moving moment where Alma tells David about the troubles she had in her past relationship and her desire to be a mother that felt so grounded and real. The film really does cast the best people for these two difficult roles. 

There is a great humor to German films that is unique and helps to bring something rather distinct to this particular story. This has plenty to do with the wonderful writing from Maria Schrader and Jan Schomberg. It manages to even have a variety of humor throughout the story going from  slapstick to dry, and to plain strange from scene to scene. The film is also shot beautifully. There is something about the way that the museum, city, and countryside all look in this film. It made me homesick for a place that I had not been to. 

While the film maintains a funny, light-hearted tone it also delves into some of the more interesting philosophical gray areas of A.I technology and how hard it can be to open yourself up to such a strange opportunity. However this film also reminds us how strange it is to open yourself up to anyone and even if love presents itself  in the form you did not expect, it doesn’t make it any less real. It manages to play off its more serious themes while also making you laugh and cry at times. 

I loved almost everything about this film so I very much suggest seeking this out. Although it has taken a bit of time to get a release in the U.S. folks should check where they can see this glorious film. It is not one to be missed.