Zoe (2018)
By Andrea Beach,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Slow-moving sci-fi love story falls flat; some sex, drugs.

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Zoe (2018)
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What's the Story?
Cole (Ewan McGregor) and ZOE (Lea Seydoux) are coworkers. Cole designs and engineers "synthetics," robots with the most advanced artificial intelligence that are so realistic that people don't even know the latest models aren't human. Zoe uses computer algorithms to calculate the probably of successful long-term relationships so clients can find their perfect mate. Zoe starts to develop feelings for Cole, but he doesn't seem capable of returning them. When Zoe learns the truth about who she is, it completely shatters her life and her relationship with Cole. Both of them enter a downward spiral, and when they hit rock bottom, they finally understand the transformative power of love.
Is It Any Good?
Two of Hollywood's leading luminaries and talented supporters like Rashida Jones, Miranda Otto, and Christina Aguilera unfortunately weren't enough to help the script find its way out of a paper bag. Just because they're spoken quietly by attractive people, cliches about love and artificial intelligence don't magically become profound. Possibly in attempt to balance some of the awfulness, McGregor and Seydoux improvise a number of scenes, but even those seem forced, possibly because the two fine actors never quite generate any on-screen chemistry.
The quiet, gentle pace of Zoe is sometimes at odds with the lens flare that seems to be mandatory in science fiction movies now. And the pace is sustained throughout the movie, which makes it a bit of a slog from about the halfway point. Adult situations, fictional drug use, and sexuality make it best for older teens and up, although there are many better choices out there for viewers interested in exploring man's relationship to technology and its effects on our emotional well being.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Cole's character. What are his strengths and weaknesses? What about Zoe's?
What other movies have you seen about artificial intelligence, cyborgs, or realistic robots? Which do you like best? Why?
Do you think we'll ever have "synthetics" as realistic as the ones in this movie? Should we? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: July 20, 2018
- Cast: Ewan McGregor, Lea Seydoux, Theo James, Rashida Jones
- Director: Drake Doremus
- Inclusion Information: Black actors
- Studio: Amazon Studios
- Genre: Science Fiction
- Topics: Robots
- Run time: 104 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: Sexual material and drug content
- Last updated: March 31, 2022
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