TIFF 2021: I’m Your Man Review

This will be one of many reviews during this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, to keep up with our latest coverage, click here.

In one of the most peculiar romantic comedies in recent memory, I’m Your Man tells a wonderfully engaging story of love, grounded in science fiction elements, that is born out of one’s resistance to change.

I’m Your Man focuses on the life of scientist Alma Felser (Eggert) who is chosen to participate in a trial study where her ideal partner is manufactured and tailored to her specific needs in order to achieve the optimal partnership. Alma is simply tasked with giving her partner, Tom (Stevens), a fair assessment by end of the study in order to determine if this technology should be further expanded into worldwide applications. Director Maria Schrader wonderfully examines the difficulties of companionship, whether natural or manufactured, and chooses to infuse humor throughout the process that truly elevates this film to a special place.

Eggert as Alma delivers a delightful performance as a woman who has successfully insulated herself from others choosing to focus her energy on her work after a failed marriage has left a distaste for anything committed to occur further in her life. In perfect concert with Alma’s character is Tom in which Stevens is able to masterfully embody an artificial intelligent lifeform who can seamlessly channel various emotions that serve as the comical catalyst for Alma’s views towards life.

On its surface, I’m Your Man easily resembles a standard romantic comedy wrapped in a sci-fi casing, but as the narrative is able to expand and further develop its main characters it very quickly shows that there are much deeper questions being asked within its story. The human condition stands at the forefront of these questions but it is through Alma’s personal journey as she begins to vocalize and address the emotionally protective ways in which she’s operated for so long that the film finds its sentimental hook culminating in an ending that leaves room for hope.

The sub-genre of sci-fi romantic comedies might not be a well-traveled one, but I’m Your Man offers a refreshing and entertaining take that should be a must-watch for all fans of either variety. It possesses performances that display both deeply humorous and intimate emotions further contributing to a story that satisfies on many levels.

still courtesy of Mongrel Media

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