Renner

Renner is an interesting little Indie with fine performances from the small cast that unfortunately isn't interesting enough to be a truly great film. Frankie Muniz grew into a fine adult actor and he is very good here as a brilliant AI computer developer with some severe personality flaws, but watching him play someone this unaware can be less than satisfying. When early in the film the audience can predict what is going on and the main character can not, it's like watching a bad horror film, you want to scream at the stupidity on screen. When characters are written as imbeciles to advance the plot it's hard to feel sorry for them or relate to what you see in screen. In this case, I give the writers credit for showing the realistic consequences to stupidity but it is hard to like a movie in which characters are either evil or incredibly naïve.

Renner (Frankie Muniz), a computer genius, is looking to find love with the help of an AI he develops named Salenus. At first, the AI helps him build confidence and navigate relationships, only to realize, a bit too late, he accidentally programmed his manipulative mother into it.

It's an odd film about Renner who wants to be more assertive, and be able to talk to women so he can find love. But the AI tool he has developed to help him achieve those aims, appears to be similar to his controlling and dominating mother, instead of the objective life coach he hoped for.

When he finally finds Jamie (Violett Beane) and sees she is interested in him things seem to be going to plan. But Salenus (voiced by Marcia Gay Harden) and Jamie's brother Chad (Taylor Gray) might all have their own plans for him.

It's really not a great film, but it's not a really bad film either. Beane and Muniz put in decent performances and the film is paced well so the 90 minutes don't feel too long at all. I gave it a 5 because it makes you think about the things you wish for, and are you actually ready for them? Do you also imagine things are going your way just because you want them to?

Renner is a big departure for Frankie Muniz, at least from his previous work I am familiar with. I was extremely impressed with his acting skills in this sci-fi drama/thriller. And Violett Beane is terrific as the beautiful neighbor/possible love interest. That relationship builds slowly and invokes many questions: Is she real? Is she attainable? Is she honest? Is she here to help Renner or ...? As the film progresses, some of these questions get answered while others remain a little unclear. As for Renner, we learn why he is the way he is. And we wonder if he will be able to escape his past. The final third of the film takes a turn and goes 'all in' while doing so, which may sit better with some viewers than for others. For me, I thought the acting, directing and editing were all on point and surprisingly good, especially for an indy film. I enjoyed the story and the film very much.

P. S. Stay for the credits so you won't miss the final scene.

Renner is a 2025 American science fiction thriller film starring Frankie Muniz, Violett Beane and Taylor Gray.

A computer genius creates an AI life coach to help him find love, but realizes too late he accidentally programmed his manipulative mother into the code.

The premise of the movie is good and the acting is okay but it focuses too much on Renner and the girl while avoiding everything else anyone with two brain cells would like to know more about.

The ending is the final nail in the coffin...talk about meh, so much could have been done here......even trying to be clever with the post credit scene doesn't help it much.