In theaters on October 23rd is ‘Klara and the Sun,’ which stars Jenna Ortega (‘Wednesday’) and is directed by Taika Waititi (‘Thor: Ragnarok’).
The cast also includes Amy Adams (‘Arrival’), Mia Tharia (‘The Education of Jane Cumming’), Steve Buscemi (‘Fargo’), Natasha Lyonne (‘American Pie’) and Aran Murphy (‘War’).
Initial Thoughts
Taika Waititi has shown a talent for tackling different types of movies –– bringing wacky laughs to (sometimes) winning effect to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but also being able to find both humor and heart in adapting from other sources, including ‘Hunt for the Wilderpeople’ and ‘Jojo Rabbit.’
Yet his latest, which turns Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2021 lyrical and thoughtful sci-fi novel to screens, doesn’t hit the same heights.
Script and Direction
With Waititi pulling duty as both co-writer (with Dahvi Waller) and director, the positives and negatives land squarely at his feet. He’s certainly brought a sense of style to the dystopian world where we first meet Klara, but at the same time, it all feels a little borrowed from the likes of Jean-Pierre Jeunet and others.
The director certainly brings out some great performances, but they’re in service of a script that often seems lacking, confusing schmaltz for depth and keeping us at arm’s length too often to really buy into the situation.
Cast and Performances
Ortega is the standout here, bringing a truly goofy charm and effervescence to her android character, and finding emotional beats that the script sometimes fails to grasp. She’s excellent whether interacting with co-stars Mia Tharia and Amy Adams, or just existing as the childlike Klara, who worships the sun and looks to explore her new world once she’s finally purchased.
Tharia and Adams are good value, yet occasionally feel constrained by the quirk-tastic world the director has built around them.
Final Thoughts
While there is certainly some appeal to the movie, the tone and sentiment never quite find a happy balance, and despite some good performances, ‘Klara’ rarely takes its place in the sun.
‘Klara and the Sun’ receives 70 out of 100.
What is the plot of ‘Klara and the Sun’?
In a dystopian future where technological advances in genetic engineering have divided humans into strict, isolated social classes, an obsolete companion android named Klara (Ortega) tries to bond with Josie (Tharia), a sick girl for whom she was purchased.
Who is in the cast of ‘Klara and the Sun’?
- Jenna Ortega as Klara
- Amy Adams as Chrissie
- Mia Tharia as Josie
- Aran Murphy as Rick
- Natasha Lyonne as Store Manager
- Steve Buscemi as Capaldi
- Rachel House as Melania
